retractor

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US/ɹɪˈtɹæktɚ/UK/ɹɪˈtɹæktə/

noun

One who, or that which, retracts.

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Meanings

nounretractor (plural retractors)

plural retractors

  1. One who, or that which, retracts.
  2. In breech-loading firearms, a device for withdrawing a cartridge shell from the barrel.
  3. board gamesA chess puzzle in which a number of moves are retracted and the solver is challenged to reach an alternate outcome.
  4. A surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound.
  5. A bandage to protect soft parts of the body from injury by a surgical saw.
  6. biologyA muscle serving to draw in any part.

Origin

From retract + -or.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish levitin
  • levitina surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound
Indonesian retraktor, hak
  • retraktora surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound
  • haka surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound
Portuguese retrator
  • retratora surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound
Turkish retraktör
  • retraktöra surgical instrument used to hold apart the edges of an incision or wound

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with retractor

factoractortractorreactorextractorrefractorattractorcompactorprotractorimpactorinteractoracterabstractormalefactorenactorabstractercompactercounteractercounteractorenacterexactorjudicial factoroveractoroverreactor
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

retractor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retractor

MLA

“retractor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retractor. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retractor,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retractor.

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