muscle

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See also musclé

Contents

English[edit]

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Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From French muscle, from Latin mūsculus (a muscle, literally little mouse), because of the mouselike appearance of some muscles, from Ancient Greek μῦς (mus, mouse, muscle, mussel). Cognate with Old English mūs (mouse", also "muscle). More at mouse.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

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.
    • 1945, George Orwell, Animal Farm, chapter 1
      You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker []
  3. (uncountable, usually plural) 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. (uncountable, figuratively) Strength.
    It took a lot of muscle to move the boulders.
  5. (uncountable) Hired strongmen or bodyguards.
    • 1985Lance 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.

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Translations[edit]

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Verb[edit]

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.

Derived terms[edit]

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Catalan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

muscle m (plural muscles)

  1. shoulder

Synonyms[edit]


French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin musculus, literally ‘little mouse’. See also the inherited moule.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

muscle m (plural muscles)

  1. muscle (contractile tissue, strength)

Verb[edit]

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

Jèrriais[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin mūsculus (a muscle, literally little mouse), from Ancient Greek μῦς (mus, mouse, muscle, mussel).

Noun[edit]

muscle m (plural muscles)

  1. (anatomy) muscle

Middle French[edit]

Noun[edit]

muscle m (plural muscles)

  1. (anatomy) muscle