muscle
MUHS-uhl
Muscle (noun) means Body tissue that contracts to produce movement. Example: “Running builds muscle in your legs.”
noun
1
Body tissue that contracts to produce movement.
"Running builds muscle in your legs."
"She pulled a muscle in her back while lifting boxes."
"The doctor explained how a muscle gets stronger when you use it regularly."
2
Physical strength or power, including figuratively.
"The new law gives regulators more muscle to fine polluters."
"It takes real muscle to move that heavy sofa up the stairs."
"The small team lacked the political muscle needed to push their plan through."
3
Hired bodyguards or enforcers (informal).
"The nightclub owner kept a couple of guys around as muscle."
"In the old film, the gang boss arrived with two men as muscle."
"The club hired some muscle to keep an eye on the door."
verb
1
To force one's way through something using strength or pressure.
"He muscled his way to the front of the queue."
"The company muscled into a market it didn't belong in."
"She muscled through the crowd to reach the stage before the band started."
How to use muscle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tissue that lets your body move, or more broadly, strength and power.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "mussel," the shellfish — they're pronounced the same but spelled differently and come from the same Latin root by coincidence of image, not meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
build muscle
pull a muscle
flex your muscles
muscle memory
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Word forms
- Plural
- muscles
- Third person singular
- muscles
- Past tense
- muscled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Running builds _____ in your legs.
Etymology
From Latin musculus ("little mouse"), because a flexing muscle under the skin was thought to look like a small mouse moving. It shares this root with "mussel."
Synonyms
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brawn
sinew
strength
power
might
musculus
muscleman
heftiness
brawniness
muscularity
muscular tissue
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “muscle” mean?
The word “muscle” means body tissue that contracts to produce movement. In plain terms, the tissue that lets your body move, or more broadly, strength and power.
How do you pronounce “muscle”?
“Muscle” is pronounced MUHS-uhl (/ˈmʌs.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “muscle” in a sentence?
Here is “muscle” used in a sentence: “Running builds muscle in your legs.”
What part of speech is “muscle”?
Depending on how it is used, “muscle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “muscle” come from?
The word “muscle” comes from Latin. From Latin musculus ("little mouse"), because a flexing muscle under the skin was thought to look like a small mouse moving. It shares this root with "mussel.".
Is “muscle” a common word?
“Muscle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “muscle” have?
“Muscle” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: body tissue that contracts to produce movement.
What is the difference between muscle and mussel?
They sound identical but mean very different things. A muscle is body tissue that contracts to create movement, like the muscles in your arms and legs. A mussel is an edible shellfish — a shelled mollusc that lives in water. Same pronunciation, different spelling: 'muscle' for the body, 'mussel' for the seafood.
What are the three types of muscle?
The body has three kinds of muscle. Skeletal muscle attaches to bones and moves the body under conscious control. Smooth muscle lines organs such as the gut and works automatically. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart, contracting steadily and tirelessly throughout life without you having to think about it.
Can muscle be built?
Yes. Muscle grows in response to being worked against resistance, a process called hypertrophy. Regular strength training — lifting weights, bodyweight exercises or similar — creates tiny stresses that the body repairs by making the muscle fibres thicker and stronger. Adequate protein, rest and recovery are essential for that growth to happen.
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