/ ˈmʌsl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a piece of body tissue that you contract and relax in order to move a particular part of the body; the tissue that forms the muscles of the body :
a calf / neck / thigh muscle
to pull / tear / strain a muscle
This exercise will work the muscles of the lower back.
He didn't move a muscle (= stood completely still) .
2.
[ U ] physical strength :
He's an intelligent player but lacks the muscle of older competitors.
3.
[ U ] the power and influence to make others do what you want :
to exercise political / industrial / financial muscle
► muscled adjective :
heavily muscled shoulders
•
IDIOMS
see flex verb
■ verb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- muscle in (on sb/sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French , from Latin musculus , diminutive of mus mouse (some muscles being thought to be mouse-like in form).