gluteus maximus

noun

gluteus max·​i·​mus -ˈmak-sə-məs How to pronounce gluteus maximus (audio)
plural glutei maximi -ˈmak-sə-ˌmī How to pronounce gluteus maximus (audio)
: the outermost muscle of the three glutei found in each of the human buttocks

Examples of gluteus maximus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The glutes may seem like a solid block, but they're actually comprised of three separate muscles: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. SELF, 23 Feb. 2022 At your hips, the IT band connects to the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius. Health Editorial Team, Health, 4 Dec. 2023 There are three glute muscles: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. Health Editorial Team, Health, 4 Dec. 2023 Behold the tush: the gluteus maximus, the largest muscle in the body, responsible for keeping the body upright. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023 The sets, each with one to six pneumatic actuators, correspond to muscles in the human body -- gluteus maximus, adductor, hamstring, and so forth [see diagram below]. IEEE Spectrum, 13 Dec. 2010 The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle of the group, is closest to the skin’s surface, and is in charge of extending the hips, says Myers. Megan Falk, Women's Health, 28 June 2023 The gluteus medius is the middle of the three glute muscles, nestled between the gluteus minimus and the gluteus maximus. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 12 May 2023 That’s because the hip thrust is really, really good at isolating your gluteus maximus, the largest muscle in your butt and in your entire lower body, Sydney Rice, MS, an exercise physiologist at the Sports Performance Center at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF. Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 12 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gluteus maximus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, largest gluteus

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gluteus maximus was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near gluteus maximus

Cite this Entry

“Gluteus maximus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gluteus%20maximus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gluteus maximus

noun
glu·​te·​us max·​i·​mus
ˈglüt-ē-əs-ˈmak-sə-məs,
glü-ˈtē-
plural glutei maximi
ˈglüt-ē-ˌī-ˈmak-sə-ˌmī,
glü-ˈtē-
: the largest and outermost of the three major muscles in each of the human buttocks that extends the thigh and rotates it to the side

Medical Definition

gluteus maximus

noun
gluteus max·​i·​mus -ˈmak-sə-məs How to pronounce gluteus maximus (audio)
plural glutei maximi -sə-ˌmī How to pronounce gluteus maximus (audio)
: the outermost of the three muscles in each buttock that arises from the sacrum, coccyx, back part of the ilium and adjacent structures, that is inserted into the fascia lata of the thigh and the gluteal tuberosity of the femur, and that acts to extend and laterally rotate the thigh

More from Merriam-Webster on gluteus maximus

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