levator

[ li-vey-ter, -tawr ]
/ lɪˈveɪ tər, -tɔr /

noun, plural lev·a·to·res [lev-uh-tawr-eez, -tohr-]. /ˌlɛv əˈtɔr iz, -ˈtoʊr-/.

Anatomy. a muscle that raises a part of the body.Compare depressor.
Surgery. an instrument used to raise a depressed part of the skull.

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Origin of levator

1605–15; <New Latin, special use of Medieval Latin levātor one who raises (levies) recruits or taxes (Latin: mitigator), equivalent to Latin levā(re) to raise + -tor-tor

Words nearby levator

levanter, Levantine, Levant storax, Levaquin, levarterenol, levator, Le Vau, levee, level, level best, level compensator
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for levator

British Dictionary definitions for levator

levator
/ (lɪˈveɪtə, -tɔː) /

noun

anatomy any of various muscles that raise a part of the body
surgery an instrument for elevating a part or structure

Word Origin for levator

C17: New Latin, from Latin levāre to raise
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 levator

levator
[ lə-vā′tər ]

n. pl. lev•a•to•res (lĕv′ə-tôr′ēz)

A surgical instrument for lifting the depressed fragments of a fractured skull.
A muscle that raises a body part.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.