depressor

American  

[dih-pres-er] / dɪˈprɛs ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that depresses.

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

3. Anatomy.

   1. a muscle that draws down a part of the body, as the corner of the mouth.

   2. Also called depressor nerve.  a nerve that, when stimulated, induces a decrease in activity, as a slowed heartbeat.

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depressor British  

/ dɪˈprɛsə /

noun

1. a person or thing that depresses

2. any muscle that draws down a part

3. med an instrument used to press down or aside an organ or part

   a tongue depressor

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

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Etymology

Origin of depressor

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

Example Sentences

"Some were friendly, others lacked bedside manners, one even came and inspected me with a wooden tongue depressor," Rhiannon explained.

From BBC • May 16, 2023

As Asma helped arrange paper flowers in a basket on the dining room table, Aqsa — who wore a plastic stethoscope around her neck — used a tongue depressor to check inside Gulsom’s mouth.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2021

You don’t need a clinical trial to test a new tongue depressor or hospital stretcher.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2019

If the examiner moves the tongue depressor to contact the lateral wall of the fauces, this should elicit the gag reflex.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The observing officer was provided with latex gloves and a tongue depressor.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover