masseter

[ ma-see-ter ]
/ mæˈsi tər /

noun Anatomy.

a short, thick, masticatory muscle, the action of which assists in closing the jaws by raising the mandible or lower jaw.

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Origin of masseter

1660–70; < New Latin < Greek massētḗr, variant of masētḗr chewer, masseter, equivalent to masē-, variant stem of masâsthai to chew + -tēr agentive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM masseter

mas·se·ter·ic [mas-i-ter-ik] /ˌmæs ɪˈtɛr ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby masseter

masscult, massed practice, massena, massenet, masses, masseter, masseteric artery, masseteric nerve, masseur, masseuse, massey
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for masseter

British Dictionary definitions for masseter

masseter
/ (mæˈsiːtə) /

noun

anatomy a muscle of the cheek used in moving the jaw, esp in chewing

Derived forms of masseter

masseteric (ˌmæsɪˈtɛrɪk), adjective

Word Origin for masseter

C17: from New Latin from Greek masētēr one who chews, from masāsthai to chew
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