muscle

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Translations 1.3.3 See also 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Derived terms 1.4.2 Translations 2 French 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Pronunciation 2.3 Noun 2.4 Verb

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From French muscle, from Latin mūsculus (“‘little mouse’”), because of the mouselike appearance of some muscles.

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: mŭsʹəl, IPA: /ˈmʌsəl/, SAMPA: /"mVs@l/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ʌsəl
• Homophones: mussel

[edit] Noun

muscle (plural muscles)

1. (uncountable) A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.

   Muscle consists largely of actin and myosin filaments.

2. (countable) An organ composed of muscle tissue.

   The muscles in his legs strained under the load.

3. (uncountable, figuratively) Strength.

   It took a lot of muscle to move the boulders.

4. (uncountable) Hired strongmen or bodyguards.
   • 1985 — Lance Parkin, The Infinity Doctors, p 34

     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.

[edit] Derived terms

cardiac muscle involuntary muscle make a muscle Muscle Beach musclebound muscle car

muscle dysmorphia muscle in on muscleman muscle shirt muscle tone muscular

muscularity musculature muscly skeletal muscle smooth muscle voluntary muscle

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• myology
• myotomy

[edit] Verb

to muscle (third-person singular simple present muscles, present participle muscling, simple past and past participle muscled)

1. To use force to make progress, especially physical force.

   He muscled his way through the crowd.

   • 1988, Steve Holman, "Christian Conquers Columbus", Ironman 47 (6): 28-34.

     Hensel and Wilson hit a series of leg shots simultaneously as Christian muscles between them with Quinn right on his heels.

[edit] Derived terms

• outmuscle

[edit] Translations

---

[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

Latin musculus, literally ‘little mouse’.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /myskl/
•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

muscle m. (plural muscles)

1. muscle (contractile tissue, strength)

[edit] Verb

muscle

1. first-person singular present indicative of muscler.
2. third-person singular present indicative of muscler.
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of muscler.
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of muscler.
5. second-person singular imperative of muscler.