abductor

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who takes someone away illegally, often by force.

   Grammar: Countable: one abductor, several abductors. The verb is abduct and the act is abduction.

   Patterns

   • the abductor of someone
   • police caught the abductor

   Police are still searching for the abductor of the missing child.

   Witnesses described the abductor as a tall man in a dark coat.

   The abductor demanded money from the family.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A muscle that moves a body part away from the middle of the body.

   Grammar: Countable and mostly technical: the abductor muscle of the hip.

   Patterns

   • the abductor muscle
   • the hip abductor

   The hip abductor helps you lift your leg sideways.

   Runners often stretch the abductor muscles to avoid injury.

Word forms

Common combinations

the abductor muscle

The abductor muscle pulls the arm away from the body.

a suspected abductor

A suspected abductor was seen near the school.

hip abductors

Strong hip abductors improve your balance.

catch the abductor

Police hope to catch the abductor soon.

Synonyms and how they differ

kidnapper

Kidnapper is the common everyday word, especially when money is demanded; abductor is more formal and often used in news reports.

snatcher

A snatcher grabs something quickly, usually a bag or phone, rather than a person.

Word family

abduct verb

To take someone away illegally by force.

abduction noun

The crime of taking someone away illegally.

abductee noun

A person who has been abducted.

Commonly confused: abductor or adductor? abductor or abductor?

Practice

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