trapezius

American  

[truh-pee-zee-uhs] / trəˈpi zi əs /

noun

Anatomy.

trapeziuses plural

1. a broad, flat muscle on each side of the upper and back part of the neck, shoulders, and back, the action of which raises, or rotates, or draws back the shoulders, and pulls the head backward or to one side.

---

trapezius British  

/ trəˈpiːzɪəs /

noun

1. either of two flat triangular muscles, one covering each side of the back and shoulders, that rotate the shoulder blades

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trapeziuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trapezius

1685–95; < New Latin, short for trapezius musculus trapeziform muscle

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trapezius

But Smith still feels tightness through his right trapezius, when he turns his head.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

The bilateral trapezius muscles were manually segmented, followed by muscle T2 extraction.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 29, 2023

The approval of such injections for cosmetic purposes is only limited to procedures involving the face, making the use of the injection in the trapezius "off-label".

From Reuters ● Sep. 1, 2023

But the sources of Mike’s appeal — a heart as big as his trapezius, resolve as firm as his glutes, a character as sturdy as his quadriceps — haven’t changed.

From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2023

The trapezius is markedly wasted, and is, therefore, less prominent in the neck than normally, and the functions of the arm and shoulder are impaired, especially in making overhead movements.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander