muscle

noun

(uncountable) A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.

(countable) An organ composed of muscle tissue.

(usually in the plural) A well-developed physique, in which the muscles are enlarged from exercise.

(uncountable, figurative) Strength, force.

(uncountable, figurative) Hired strongmen or bodyguards.

verb

(transitive) To use force to make progress, especially physical force.

(intransitive) To move forcefully or with great strength.

Roots

musculusmuscl- · Latin · little mouse, muscle

Synonyms for muscle

muscularityn levatorn buccinator sinewn musculaturen brawnn brawninessn peroneusn massetern bicepsn mylohyoidadj trapeziusn pectoralisn tricepsn heftinessn

Synonyms & related words for muscle

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of muscle — including muscularity, levator, buccinator, sinew, musculature, brawn. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to muscle

Explore words related to muscle — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include muscleman, splenius, muscular, pronator, supinator, scalenus, gastrocnemius, muscularly. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for muscle

Common synonyms for muscle include muscularity, levator, buccinator, sinew, musculature, brawn, brawniness, peroneus — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does muscle come from?

The word muscle breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root muscl-, from Latin musculus (“little mouse, muscle”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.