rectus

R1E1C3T1U1S1
/ˈɹɛk.təs/

noun

Any of a number of muscles controlling the movement of the eyeball.

OriginLatin rēctus →
UncommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

nounrectus (plural recti)

plural recti

  1. Any of several straight muscles in various parts of the body, as of the abdomen, thigh, eye etc.
    1. abbreviationellipsisanatomyEllipsis of rectus abdominis.
    2. anatomyAny of a number of muscles controlling the movement of the eyeball.

Origin

  1. Latinrēctus“straight, upright”
  2. Englishrectus

Borrowed from Latin rēctus (“straight, upright”), clipping of mūsculus rēctus (“straight muscle”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“rectus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rectus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rectus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rectus.

Source: rectus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.