retractor

[ ri-trak-ter ]

/ rɪˈtræk tər /

noun

a person or thing that retracts.

Anatomy. a muscle that retracts an organ or protruded part.

Surgery. an instrument or appliance for drawing back an impeding part, as the edge of an incision.

a mechanism, device, or the like that regulates retraction: to adjust the retractor on a seat belt.

Nearby words

retract, retractile, retraction, retraction nystagmus, retractive, retractor, retrain, retrainee, retral, retread, retreat

Origin of retractor

First recorded in 1830–40; retract¹ + -or²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for retractor

These consist of four straight muscles, two oblique, and one retractor.
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture
Paresi took tweezers, a retractor, two scalpels and a hypodermic case out of the kit and laid them in a neat row on the bunk.
Breaking Point|James E. Gunn
Scotty pulled the retractor of his rifle and a cartridge rammed into the firing chamber.
The Golden Skull|John Blaine
There is, however, another muscle—the Retractor oculi—belonging to the same group which is innervated by the VIth nerve.
The Origin of Vertebrates|Walter Holbrook Gaskell

Its edge is then drawn slightly outwards by means of a retractor and separated from the underlying deep fascia.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for retractor

retractor

/ (rɪˈtræktə) /

noun

anatomy any of various muscles that retract an organ or part

surgery an instrument for holding back the edges of a surgical incision or organ or part

a person or thing that retracts

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

Medicine definitions for retractor

retractor

[ rĭ-trăk′tər ]

n.

A surgical instrument used to hold back organs or the edges of an incision.

A muscle, such as a flexor, that retracts an organ or a part.