adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər How to pronounce adductor (audio)
a-
1
: a muscle that draws a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity
2
: a muscle that closes the valves of a bivalve mollusk

Examples of adductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Davis did look incredible during his lone game with the Mavericks thus far, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes before departing with his adductor injury. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Anthony Davis has been out since suffering an adductor injury in his Dallas debut after the Mavericks acquired him in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. — Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025 City are already without one defender in Manuel Akanji, who is set to be sidelined for up to 10 weeks with an adductor injury that requires surgery. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 The Mavs big man, though, is out injured with a strained left adductor and will not feature in Tuesday night’s clash at Crypto.com Arena. — Patrick Sung, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adductor

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Late Latin, "conductor," from Latin addūcere "to lead or bring (to a place)" + -tor, agent suffix — more at adduce

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of adductor was in 1615

Browse Nearby Words

adductor
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Cite this Entry

“Adductor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adductor. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

adductor

noun
ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər How to pronounce adductor (audio)
: a muscle that draws a body part (as an arm or finger) toward or past a plane or a line that divides the body or a hand or foot into right and left halves

Medical Definition

adductor

noun
ad·​duc·​tor -ˈdək-tər How to pronounce adductor (audio)
1
: any of three powerful triangular muscles that contribute to the adduction of the human thigh:
a
: one arising from the superior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the middle third of the linea aspera

called also adductor longus

b
: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the iliopectineal line and the upper part of the linea aspera

called also adductor brevis

c
: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and the ischium and inserted behind the first two into the linea aspera

called also adductor magnus

2
: any of several muscles other than the adductors of the thigh that draw a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity
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