buccinator

noun

buc·​ci·​na·​tor ˈbək-sə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce buccinator (audio)
: a thin broad muscle forming the wall of the cheek

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin bucinator trumpeter, from bucinare to sound on the trumpet, from bucina trumpet, from bov-, bos cow + canere to sing, play — more at cow, chant

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buccinator was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near buccinator

Cite this Entry

“Buccinator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buccinator. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

buccinator

noun
buc·​ci·​na·​tor ˈbək-sə-ˌnāt-ər How to pronounce buccinator (audio)
: a thin broad muscle forming the wall of the cheek and serving to compress the cheek against the teeth and to retract the angle of the mouth

called also buccinator muscle

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!