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

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin obturare

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for obturator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical 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)

: obturator externus

(2)

: obturator internus

b

: obturator nerve

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