To save this word, you'll need to log in.
sta·pe·di·us | \ stə-ˈpē-dē-əs 
\
\ plural stapedii\ -dē-ˌī \
\Medical Definition of stapedius
: a small muscle of the middle ear that arises from the wall of the tympanum, is inserted into the neck of the stapes by a tendon that sometimes contains a slender spine of bone, and serves to check and dampen vibration of the stapes
— called also stapedius muscle
Comments on stapedius
What made you want to look up stapedius? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Original Meanings Quiz
A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!
Take the quiz - July 2020 Words of the Day Quiz Take the quiz
- Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share stapedius