obturator
noun
ob·tu·ra·tor
ˈäb-tyə-ˌrā-tər 
-tə-
: something (such as a prosthetic device) that closes or blocks up an opening (such as a fissure in the palate)
Examples of obturator in a Sentence
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One particularly pesky pelvic floor muscle is the obturator internus, which sits deep in the hip and, when aggravated, can cause hip pain.
—
Jordan Smith, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
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Jordan Smith, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obturator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obturator. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
obturator
noun
ob·tu·ra·tor
ˈäb-t(y)ə-ˌrāt-ər
1
a
: either of two muscles arising from the obturator membrane and adjacent bony surfaces:
(1)
(2)
b
2
a
: a prosthetic device that closes or blocks up an opening (as a fissure in the palate)
b
: a device that blocks the opening of an instrument (as a sigmoidoscope) that is being introduced into the body
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