Phrase guide

rotator cuff

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder responsible for rotating the humerus (upper arm bone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a supporting structure of the shoulder consisting of the muscles and tendons that attach the arm to the shoulder joint and enable the arm to move

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: structure, anatomical structure, complex body part, bodily structure, body structure

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: كُفَّة مُدَوَّرَة — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Chinese Mandarin: 肩袖 (jiānxiù) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旋轉袖 /旋转袖 (xuánzhuǎnxiù) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旋轉肌袖 /旋转肌袖 (xuánzhuǎnjīxiù) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旋轉肌 /旋转肌 (xuánzhuǎnjī) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Dutch: rotatorenmanchet — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Finnish: kiertäjäkalvosin — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • French: coiffe des rotateurs — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • German: Rotatorenmanschette — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Hungarian: rotátorköpeny — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Russian: ротацио́нная манже́та (rotaciónnaja manžéta) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Russian: враща́тельная манже́та (vraščátelʹnaja manžéta) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Russian: враща́тельная манже́та плеча́ (vraščátelʹnaja manžéta plečá) — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Spanish: manguito rotador — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder
  • Turkish: rotator manşet — set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder