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.
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Pronunciation
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/ˌtɛm.pəˈɹeɪ.lɪs/
rhymes with -eɪlɪs
1
noun
Meaning 1
A fan-shaped muscle which arises from the surface of the temporal fossa and converges to an aponeurosis which contracts into a thick flat tendon inserted into the coronoid process of the mandible; it serves to raise the lower jaw and is involved in closing the mouth and chewing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: temporal muscle
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
muscle extending from the temporal fossa to the coronoid process of the mandible; acts to raise the mandible and close the jaws
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Borrowed from Late Latin temporālis (“of or belonging to the temples of the head”), ellipsis of mūsculus temporālis (“the temporal muscle”). Doublet of temporal.
Across languages
Translations
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
