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muscle

Pronunciation: /ˈmʌs.əl/

The English word “muscle” has 7 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.
  2. An organ composed of muscle tissue.
  3. A well-developed physique, in which the muscles are enlarged from exercise.
  4. Strength, force.
  5. Hired strongmen or bodyguards.

verb

  1. To use force to make progress, especially physical force.
  2. To move forcefully or with great strength.

Etymology

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.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.