orbicularis oris

UK/ɔːˌbɪk.jʊˌlɑː.ɹɪs ˈɒ.ɹɪs/US/ɔɹˌbɪk.jəˌlɛɹ.ɪs ˈɔɹ.ɪs/US/ɔɹˌbɪk.juˌlɛɹ.ɪs ˈɔɹ.ɪs/

noun

A muscle made up of several layers of fibers passing in different directions that surrounds the mouth and controls most movements of the lips (as compressing, closing, or pursing movements).

OriginNew Latin orbiculāris ōris →
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Meanings

nounorbicularis oris (plural orbiculares orum)

plural orbiculares orum

  1. anatomyA muscle made up of several layers of fibers passing in different directions that surrounds the mouth and controls most movements of the lips (as compressing, closing, or pursing movements).

Origin

  1. New Latinorbiculāris ōris
  2. Englishorbicularis oris

Borrowed from New Latin orbiculāris ōris, clipping of mūsculus orbiculāris ōris (“orbicular muscle of the mouth”).

More words from New Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 口輪匝肌 /口轮匝肌
  • 口輪匝肌 /口轮匝肌 (kǒu lúnzājī)muscle
Polish mięsień okrężny ust
  • mięsień okrężny ustmuscle
Cite this entry
APA

orbicularis oris. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orbicularis%20oris

MLA

“orbicularis oris.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orbicularis%20oris. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “orbicularis oris,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orbicularis%20oris.

Source: orbicularis oris on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.