Meanings
nounplatysma (plural platysmas or platysmata)
plural platysmas · plural platysmata
- anatomyA superficial muscle of the human neck that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid.
Synonyms: shaving muscle
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA superficial muscle of the human neck that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid.
Similar
Also see
Origin
- Ancient Greekπλᾰ́τῠσμᾰ“flat object”
- New Latinplatysma
- Englishplatysma
Borrowed from New Latin platysma, from Ancient Greek πλᾰ́τῠσμᾰ (plắtŭsmă, “flat object”), from πλᾰτῠ́νω (plătŭ́nō, “widen”) + -μᾰ (-mă, “nominal suffix”).
More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 頸闊肌 /颈阔肌
- 頸闊肌 /颈阔肌 (jǐngkuòjī)muscle
Greek πλάτυσμα
- πλάτυσμα (plátysma)muscle
Polish mięsień szeroki szyi
- mięsień szeroki szyimuscle
Russian подкожная мышца шеи
- подкожная мышца шеи (podkožnaja myšca šei)muscle
Cite this entry
APA
platysma. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platysma
MLA
“platysma.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platysma. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “platysma,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platysma.
Source: platysma on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.