26984 words

muscle

8 definitions • 15 examples
1
one of many tissues in the body that can tighten and relax to produce movement:

Examples:

bulging/rippling muscle He looks like a boxer, with thick arms and bulging/rippling (= large and clear to see) muscles.
flex your muscles He flexed his muscles (= tightened them to make them look large and strong) so that everyone could admire them.
These exercises build muscle and increase stamina.
2
to injure a muscle by stretching it too far so that it is very painful:

Examples:

Russell pulled a back muscle early in the game.
3
the power to do difficult things or to make people behave in a certain way:

Examples:

This magazine has considerable financial muscle and can afford to pay top journalists.
The company lacks the marketing muscle to compete with drug giants.
4
one or more people who are and look strong and powerful, especially people employed to protect someone or frighten other people:

Examples:

The men he employs as muscle are locked in a game of who's the hardest.
The plotters used members of the mob as muscle.
5
a mass of tissue in the body, often attached to bones, that can tighten and relax to produce movement
6
Muscle is also the power to do things or to make people behave in a certain way:

Examples:

[ U ] Republicans are flexing some political muscle.
7
to force your way into a place or situation:

Examples:

[ T ] Starks muscled his way to the basket.
[ I ] Amanda muscled in on our meeting.
8
the power to do difficult things or to make people behave in a certain way:

Examples:

We do have the financial muscle to compete effectively in this market.

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