retractor
noun
re·trac·tor
| \ ri-ˈtrak-tər
\
\
Definition of retractor
: one that retracts: such as
a
: a surgical instrument for holding open the edges of a wound
b
: a muscle that draws in an organ or part
Examples of retractor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To install with a seat belt, make sure the seat belt’s retractor is in the locked position, preventing the car seat from moving. — Jennifer Geiger, USA TODAY, "That's not how any of this works! We call B.S. on car seat safety myths," 15 July 2019 One, called the retractor anguli oculi lateralis muscle, pulls the side of the eyes toward the ears. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "We may have inadvertently selected for muscles on dogs’ faces," 18 June 2019 Similarly, the retractor anguli oculi lateralis muscle (RAOL) is developed in all dogs but Siberian huskies, who are more closely related to wolves than other breeds. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "Why you think your dog loves you," 18 June 2019 Another muscle, called the retractor anguli oculi lateralis or RAOM, which pulls the eyelids toward the ears, was well developed in all the dogs except the husky, a breed with an ancient lineage. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Dogs Evolved a Special Muscle That Lets Them Make ‘Puppy Dog Eyes’," 18 June 2019 All other facial muscles around the eyes were the same across species, except for the retractor anguli oculi lateralis muscle, which pulls the corners of the eyelids toward the ears. — N'dea Yancey-bragg, USA TODAY, "Dogs may have evolved with 'puppy dog eyes' to communicate with humans, study finds," 17 June 2019 And all dogs except a Siberian husky—an ancient breed—sported a robust retractor anguli oculi lateralis muscle, which widens the eyes by pulling the eyelids towards the ears. — David Grimm, Science | AAAS, "We may have helped give our canine pals ‘puppy dog eyes’," 17 June 2019 Key differences During conventional knee replacement surgery, the knee is in a position of hyperflexion with retractors pulling the kneecap. — Orthocincy, Cincinnati.com, "Stem cell injections or knee replacement," 4 June 2018 One surgery was canceled after the patient was already under anesthesia because a retractor was unavailable — it had not been sterilized since its last use a week earlier. — Donovan Slack, USA TODAY, "6 eye-popping findings from an investigation of the Washington D.C. VA medical center," 7 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retractor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for retractor
retractor
noun
re·trac·tor
| \ ri-ˈtrak-tər
\
\
Medical Definition of retractor
: one that retracts: as
a
: any of various surgical instruments for holding tissues away from the field of operation
b
: a muscle that draws in an organ or part — compare protractor