rotator cuff

noun

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web One guy almost popped my rotator cuff. —

Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Nov. 2022 The pitcher underwent right shoulder surgery, the team announced Friday, to repair his labrum and rotator cuff, a procedure that comes with roughly a 10-month rehab and leaves Treinen’s status for the upcoming campaign in doubt. —

Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022 When Harrison hurt his elbow and rotator cuff, Burgos regularly massaged the injured areas in his office near the boys’ locker room. —

New York Times, 9 June 2021 Tighten your armpits and make sure your shoulders are pulled back to activate the muscles in the rotator cuff area. —

Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 23 Feb. 2023 Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the labrum of the 29-year-old righthander was cleaned up during the procedure a day earlier with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Montas’ rotator cuff did not need to be repaired. —

San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Feb. 2023 Rowing with heavier loads elicits more muscle growth in your middle and lower traps, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, upper traps, rear deltoids, and rotator cuff muscles. —

Tony Gentilcore, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022 Pierre-Paul, 33, has played the past four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording 2 1/2 sacks, five quarterback hits and 31 tackles in 12 games in 2021 while battling a torn rotator cuff before having shoulder surgery in February. —

Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 22 Sep. 2022 One trial currently underway at the Arizona Research Center aims to study stem cells for treating partial rotator cuff tears. —

AZCentral.com, 13 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotator cuff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rotator cuff was in 1944

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rotator cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotator%20cuff. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

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Medical Definition

rotator cuff

noun

-ˌkəf

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of part of its capsule blended with tendons of the subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and teres minor muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the humerus

called also musculotendinous cuff