muscle
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the parts of your body that you tighten or relax to move your arms, legs, and other parts.
n.contractile tissue in the body that produces movement or maintains position in parts of the body.
Simple“He pulled a muscle in his leg while running for the bus.”
In context“The athlete spent months in physical therapy to repair the damaged muscle after a severe tear during the championship match.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.physical power or a body that looks very strong from exercise.
n.physical power or strength; often refers to a physique with well-developed musculature.
Simple“It took a lot of muscle to move the heavy piano across the room.”
In context“The job requires a fair amount of muscle, as workers are expected to lift heavy crates for several hours a day.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.people hired to use physical force or to protect someone.
n.individuals employed to provide protection or to intimidate others through physical presence.
Simple“The club owner brought some muscle along to make sure the meeting stayed peaceful.”
In context“The mob boss never travelled without his muscle, ensuring that any potential threats were neutralised before they could act.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to move or push into a place using force.
v.to move or make progress by using physical force or social pressure; often used with 'in' or 'through'.
Simple“He tried to muscle his way to the front of the crowd.”
In context“The larger corporation attempted to muscle in on the local market, driving out smaller competitors with aggressive pricing.”
UsageOften used as a phrasal verb: 'muscle in' or 'muscle through'.
Usage muscle strength
From Middle English muscle, muscule, muskylle, and in part from Middle French muscle, from Latin mūsculus (“a muscle”, literally “little mouse”) because of the mouselike appearance of some muscles, from mūs (“mouse”). Doublet of mussel. More at mouse.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.