# muscle

/ˈməsəɫ/ (US) · /mˈʌsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/muscle
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. body tissue

noun · CEFR B1

the parts of your body that you tighten or relax to move your arms, legs, and other parts.

For teachers: contractile tissue in the body that produces movement or maintains position in parts of the body.

- He pulled a muscle in his leg while running for the bus.
- The athlete spent months in physical therapy to repair the damaged muscle after a severe tear during the championship match.

### 2. physical strength

noun · CEFR B2

physical power or a body that looks very strong from exercise.

For teachers: physical power or strength; often refers to a physique with well-developed musculature.

- It took a lot of muscle to move the heavy piano across the room.
- The job requires a fair amount of muscle, as workers are expected to lift heavy crates for several hours a day.

### 4. hired guards

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

people hired to use physical force or to protect someone.

For teachers: individuals employed to provide protection or to intimidate others through physical presence.

- The club owner brought some muscle along to make sure the meeting stayed peaceful.
- The mob boss never travelled without his muscle, ensuring that any potential threats were neutralised before they could act.

### 5. to force your way

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to move or push into a place using force.

For teachers: to move or make progress by using physical force or social pressure; often used with 'in' or 'through'.

- He tried to muscle his way to the front of the crowd.
- The larger corporation attempted to muscle in on the local market, driving out smaller competitors with aggressive pricing.

Usage: Often used as a phrasal verb: 'muscle in' or 'muscle through'.

## Examples

- He works out every day to build more muscle.
- The athlete pulled a muscle in her leg during the final sprint of the race.
- The heart is a unique type of involuntary muscle that must function continuously throughout a person's life without the benefit of conscious control or rest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.