sphincter

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
16
Words With Friends
18
Letters
9
Pronunciation
/ˈsfɪŋk.tɚ/

Definition of sphincter

1 sense · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

  1. A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening (such as the anus or the openings of the stomach), constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.
    “the sphincter of the bladder”
    “the iris sphincter in the eye”
    “She decided that she would force him to climax first by the sheer strength of her young animal control, the strength of her sphincters […]”
    “The ink sac feeds into the rectum, controlled by a sphincter and in some inking events mucus from another organ, the funnel organ is ejected with water and ink through the anus and the siphon to create a cloud of ink.”
    “Polygraph operators place their subjects on a pad that can sense the clenching of their sphincters, a device known by those who’ve sat on them as the “whoopee cushion.” Maguire took his seat, his sphincter already tight enough to crush walnuts.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

Etymology tree Late Latin sphinctērlbor. English sphincter Learned borrowing from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), ultimately of Pre-Greek origin. Possibly related to sphinx (“the strangler”).

Words you can make from sphincter

200+ playable · top: PINCHERS (15 pts)

Best play pinchers 15 points

8-letter words

6 words

7-letter words

32 words

6-letter words

75 words

5-letter words

86 words

Hooks

1 extension · 1 back

A single letter you can add to sphincter to make another valid word.

Find your best play with sphincter

See every word you can make from a set of letters that includes sphincter, or browse word lists you can mine for high-scoring plays.