depressor

[ dih-pres-er ]

/ dɪˈprɛs ər /

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noun

a person or thing that depresses.

Surgery. an instrument for pressing down a protruding part, as a tongue depressor.

Anatomy.

a muscle that draws down a part of the body, as the corner of the mouth.Compare levator.
Also called depressor nerve . a nerve that, when stimulated, induces a decrease in activity, as a slowed heartbeat.

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Origin of depressor

1605–15; <Late Latin, derivative of Latin dēprimere (see depress, -tor)

Words nearby depressor

depression, Depression glass, Depression, Great, depressive, depressomotor, depressor, depressor fiber, depressor muscle of angle of mouth, depressor muscle of eyebrow, depressor muscle of lower lip, depressor muscle of septum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use depressor in a sentence

In the basi-carinal corner of the valve there are often crests for the attachment of the tergal depressor muscle.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
Cirripedia without a peduncle; scuta and terga furnished with depressor muscles; other valves united immoveably together.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
The cavity for the lateral depressor muscle is generally very slight; but in the two vars.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
The depressor muscle is attached in the middle, at the lower, open end of this cavity.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin

There is a short adductor ridge, and a deep narrow pit or cleft for the lateral-depressor muscle.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin

British Dictionary definitions for depressor

depressor

/ (dɪˈprɛsə) /

noun

a person or thing that depresses

any muscle that draws down a part

med an instrument used to press down or aside an organ or parta tongue depressor

Also called: depressor nerve any nerve that when stimulated produces a fall in blood pressure by dilating the arteries or lowering the heartbeat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for depressor

depressor

[ dĭ-prĕs′ər ]

Any of various muscles that act by drawing down a part of the body.

Something that depresses or retards functional activity.

An instrument used to push certain structures out of the way during an operation or examination.

An agent that lowers blood pressure.hypotensor

A nerve that when stimulated acts to lower arterial blood pressure.