Dictionary

obturator en · NOUN

Etymology

From Latin obtūrō (“to stop, block up”).

Meanings

1. An object used to obstruct a hole, such as a fissure of the palate.
2. The membrane vessels, etc. that close the obturator foramen, or thyroid foramen, a large opening or fenestra in the anterior part of the hip bone.
3. A valve closure member (disk, gate, plug, etc.).
   • Obturators, held down by compressed air, close the pipe giving direct access from the h.p. exhaust to the l.p. steam chest, and so prevent compound working; […]. 1952 December, 'Mercury', “Modern French Locomotive Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 803:
4. Any device for preventing the escape of gas through the breech mechanism of a breech-loading gun; a gas check.
5. A camera shutter.

Forms

Deriveds

obturator foramen · transobturator