noun

depressor

di-PRES-er/dɪˈpresər/

Something that moves or forces another thing downward.

The doctor uses a tongue depressor to examine my throat.

A clinician uses a wooden tongue depressor to press a patient's tongue down during an oral examination, visibly demonstrating an instrument that lowers something.

Etymology

deLatindown

+pressLatinto press

+orLatinone or something that acts

An agent noun turns “press down” into the name of whatever does the lowering. This functional meaning covers a muscle, instrument, or drug rather than one particular kind of object.

In context

Ninja Nerd3:22

… called the depressor labii inferioris and it basically it pulls the lower lip downward.

Muscles of the Head & Neck | Anatomy Model

More examples

The nurse unwraps a fresh depressor before the exam.
A depressor muscle pulls the lower lip downward.
These wooden depressors come in individually sealed wrappers.

Forms

depressor · depressors

depress verb — To push or move something downward.

Similar words

presser: A presser applies pressure without necessarily moving anything downward.
pusher: A pusher applies force in any direction, not just downward.