sphincter
noun/ˈsfɪŋktər/
Frequency rank: #16,353 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
a ring-shaped muscle that can contract to close off a body passage or opening.
Example sentence
The doctor explained that the sphincter controls the opening and closing of the digestive tract.
Synonyms & related words
More words in ranks 16,301–16,400
- skimpysmaller or less than what is needed; barely adequate in amount or coverage.
- snoreto breathe noisily during sleep, making a rough, rattling sound
- sorceressa woman who practises magic or sorcery; a female sorcerer.
- spaceflightthe act or experience of traveling beyond Earth's atmosphere in a spacecraft.
- spendera person who spends money, especially freely or extravagantly
- sternumThe long flat bone running down the center of the chest, connecting the ribs.
- stockbrokerA person who buys and sells stocks and shares on behalf of clients, usually for a commission.
- strangulationThe act of killing or injuring someone by squeezing their throat so they cannot breathe.
- stratificationThe arrangement of something into distinct layers or hierarchical levels.
- stretchyable to stretch easily and return to its original shape.