Muscle Definition
mŭsəl
muscled, muscles, muscling
noun
muscles
Any of the bodily organs consisting of bundles of cells or fibers that can be contracted and relaxed to produce bodily movements.
Webster's New World
The tissue making up such an organ.
Webster's New World
Muscular strength; brawn.
Webster's New World
Power or authority.
Put some muscle into law enforcement.
American Heritage
Power or influence, esp. when based on force or threats of force.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
muscled, muscles, muscling
To move (something) by, or as by, muscular exertion.
Webster's New World
To make one's way or take control by sheer strength or force, or threats of force.
Webster's New World
To influence, pressure, etc. by force or threat of force.
Webster's New World
Origin of Muscle
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From French muscle, from Latin mÅ«sculus (“a muscle", literally “little mouse") because of the mouselike appearance of some muscles, from mÅ«s (“mouse"). Cognate with Old English mÅ«s (“mouse", also "muscle"). More at mouse.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Old French from Latin mūsculus diminutive of mūs mouse mūs- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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