diaphragm

US /ˈdaɪəˌfræm/

UK /ˈdaɪəfræm/

C1

noun

  • Muscular membrane separating upper/lower organs
  • A dome-shaped, muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals. It plays a major role in breathing, as its contraction increases the volume of the thorax and so inflates the lungs.
  • A contraceptive device consisting of a thin rubber or plastic dome that is inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix.
  • A thin, usually circular, plate or membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves or light, or that controls the passage of light or fluid.