n.
Pronunciation: ' sfi ŋ (k)-t ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek sphinkt ē r, literally, band, from sphingein to bind tight
Date: 1578
: an annular muscle surrounding and able to contract or close a bodily opening
– sphinc · ter · ic \ sfi ŋ (k)- ' ter-ik \ adjective