rotator cuff
noun
: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus
Examples of rotator cuff in a Sentence
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The righthander has missed the beginning of the major league season with rotator cuff tendinitis.
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Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
When the deep stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, such as the lower trapezius, serratus anterior and rotator cuff, aren’t firing properly, larger muscles such as the upper trapezius (located at the side of the neck and top of the back) and pectoralis major (upper chest) tend to take over.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Pelicans forward Trey Murphy will be out for the remainder of the regular season after sustaining a torn labrum and partial tear of the rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the team announced Monday following a game against the Detroit Pistons.
—William Guillory, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Despite a rotator cuff strain in 2021 that ultimately sent him to the injured list, López posted a solid 3.07 ERA over 20 starts, striking out 115 batters in 102.2 innings.
—Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
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Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
When the deep stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, such as the lower trapezius, serratus anterior and rotator cuff, aren’t firing properly, larger muscles such as the upper trapezius (located at the side of the neck and top of the back) and pectoralis major (upper chest) tend to take over.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Pelicans forward Trey Murphy will be out for the remainder of the regular season after sustaining a torn labrum and partial tear of the rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the team announced Monday following a game against the Detroit Pistons.
—William Guillory, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Despite a rotator cuff strain in 2021 that ultimately sent him to the injured list, López posted a solid 3.07 ERA over 20 starts, striking out 115 batters in 102.2 innings.
—Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rotator cuff
Cite this Entry
“Rotator cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotator%20cuff. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
rotator cuff
noun
: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of part of its capsule blended with tendons of the subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and teres minor muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the humerus
called also musculotendinous cuff
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