muscle Definition
- 1a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body
- 2physical power; strength
Using muscle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "muscle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He pulled a muscle in his leg while running.
Example
She has well-defined arm muscles from lifting weights.
Example
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body.
Example
The athlete's muscles bulged as he lifted the heavy weights.
muscle Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using muscle
Example
He may be smart, but he has no muscle to back up his ideas.
Example
If you want to finish the project on time, you'll need to put some muscle into it.
Example
The boss has a muscle on everyone in the office.
Phrases with muscle
flex one's muscles
to show off one's strength or power
Example
The new CEO flexed her muscles by making some bold decisions.
the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement
Example
After practicing the dance routine for weeks, it became muscle memory and she could perform it effortlessly.
Example
He tried to muscle in on our conversation, but we ignored him.
Origins of muscle
from Latin 'musculus', meaning 'little mouse', because of the resemblance of some muscles to mice
Summary: muscle in Brief
The term 'muscle' [ˈmʌsl] refers to fibrous tissue that can contract, producing movement or maintaining body position. It also denotes physical power and strength. Examples include pulling a muscle while running and having well-defined arm muscles from lifting weights. Phrases like 'flex one's muscles' and 'muscle memory' extend its usage, while idioms like 'no muscle' and 'put some muscle into' highlight its figurative meanings.