muscle
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- //ˈmʌs.əl//
- /[ˈmʌs.l̩]/
A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.
noun
- 1
A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.
Muscle consists largely of actin and myosin filaments.
For as the Trunk of the Body, is kept from tilting forvvard by the Muſcules of the Back: So, from falling backvvard, by theſe of the Belly.
- 2
An organ composed of muscle tissue.
His brow and hair and the palms of his hands were wet, and there was a kind of nervous contraction of his muscles. They seemed to ripple and string tense.
You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker […]
- 3
A well-developed physique, in which the muscles are enlarged from exercise.
2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xii The fact that I was middle-aged, bald, married, and raising girls instead of chasing them didn't really bother me. Muscles are cool at any age.
- 4
figurativeStrength, force.
The widely-backed campaign to recall Evan Mecham as governor of Arizona gained even more muscle when the state House of Representatives voted to impeach the ultraconservative on February 5.
The lesson to be drawn from the events of 1914, to Roosevelt's mind, was that civilization needed muscle to defend it, not just solemn words.
It was going to take muscle to pluck Miss Agnes out of the canal.
How can the unions - or more specifically the RMT—possibly think this is a good time to exert a bit of industrial muscle and indulge in strikes both on the national railway and the London Underground?
- 5
figurativeHired strongmen or bodyguards.
It was easy enough to dodge him, let him crash into the floorboards. Peltroc knew that his priority was the leader, not the hired muscle.
Etymology
From Middle English muscle, muscule, muskylle, and in part from Middle French muscle, from Latin mūsculus (“a muscle”, literally “little mouse”) because of the mouselike appearance of some muscles, from mūs (“mouse”). Doublet of mussel. More at mouse.
verb
- 1
To use force to make progress, especially physical force.
He muscled his way through the crowd.
Hensel and Wilson hit a series of leg shots simultaneously as Christian muscles between them with Quinn right on his heels.
Nothing the Nebraskans ever again recorded managed to muscle more than minimal attention.
"Here!" I passed out stacks of money. T.C. hadn't had time to batch it up, so some of it was just laying loose in money bags and I passed all that shit out to Rome while Pimp muscled Miss Lady around.
- 2
To move forcefully or with great strength.
She muscled through the ruins.
Forms
- plural
- muscles
- past tense
- muscled
- past participle
- muscled
- present participle
- muscling
- third person singular
- muscles
muscle · A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.
muscular · Of, relating to, or connected with muscles.muse · Of a person: a source of inspiration.Muse · One of the nine Ancient Greek deities of the arts.