levator

UK: /lɪˈveɪtə/ US: (li vā′tər, -tôr)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

le•va•tor  (li vā′tər, -tôr), n., pl. lev•a•to•res 

(lev′ə tôr′ēz, -tōr′-). 
1. Anatomy a muscle that raises a part of the body. Cf. depressor.
2. Surgery an instrument used to raise a depressed part of the skull.

• Neo-Latin, special use of Medieval Latin levātor one who raises (levies) recruits or taxes (Latin: mitigator), equivalent. to Latin levā(re) to raise + -tor -tor
• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

levator / lɪˈveɪtə -tɔː/ noun

1. any of various muscles that raise a part of the body

Etymology: 17th Century: New Latin, from Latin levāre to raise