rictus

ric·tus  (rkts)

n. pl. rictus or ric·tus·es

1. The expanse of an open mouth, a bird's beak, or similar structure.

2. A gaping grimace: "his mouth gaping in a kind of rictus of startled alarm" (Richard Adams).

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[Latin, from past participle of ring, to gape.]

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rictal adj.

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rictus [ˈrɪktəs]

n pl -tus, -tuses

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) the gape or cleft of an open mouth or beak

2. a fixed or unnatural grin or grimace, as in horror or death

[from Latin, from ringī to gape]

rictal  adj

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rictus

the opening of the mouth, especially in a grimace or expression of pain.

See also: Body, Human

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

rictus - a gaping grimace gape - an expression of openmouthed astonishment

Translations

rictus [ˈrɪktəs] N (rictus or rictuses (pl)) → rictus m

rictus

n (Anat, Zool) → Sperrweite f