Phrase guide

zygomaticus major

noun · 1 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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  • General-American: /ˌzaɪ.ɡəˌmæt.ək.əs ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒɚ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A slender band of muscle on each side of the face that arises from the zygomatic bone, inserts into the orbicularis oris and skin at the corner of the mouth, and acts to pull the corner of the mouth upward and backward when smiling or laughing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: zygomaticus

History

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin zygomaticus major, clipping of mūsculus zygomaticus major (“larger zygomatic muscle”).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 顴大肌 /颧大肌 (quándàjī) — muscle