muscle
gb/mˈʌsəl/ us/mˈʌsəl/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Tissue that moves body parts
A part of the body made of strong fibers that can tighten and relax to help you move.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [a/an] muscle in [a body part]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'muscle' with 'mussel', which is a type of shellfish.
Synonyms
sinew (More literary or old-fashioned, less common in modern everyday use.)
Antonyms
fat (Refers to body tissue that stores energy rather than producing movement.)
Collocations
build muscle
|muscle tissue
|muscle contraction
|muscle pain
|muscle strength
Themes
biology
|health
|anatomy
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The biceps is a large muscle in the upper arm.
- He injured a leg muscle while running.
- Muscles work in pairs to move your bones.
- Regular exercise helps strengthen your muscles.
Learner examples
- I hurt a muscle in my back.
- He has strong arm muscles.
- The heart is a special kind of muscle.
- She wants to build more muscle.
Noun
B1
property
2
Physical strength or power
The strength of your body, especially from your muscles.
Usage pattern:
use [someone's] muscle to [do something]
Synonyms
strength (More general; can refer to physical, mental, or other types of strength.)
Antonyms
weakness (Lack of physical power or strength.)
Collocations
flex muscle
|show muscle
|use muscle
|muscle power
Themes
sports
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company used its financial muscle to win the deal.
- He doesn’t have the muscle to lift that box.
- They showed some muscle in the final minutes of the game.
Learner examples
- He has the muscle to carry this bag.
- The team used their muscle to win.
- She has no muscle after being sick.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
3
Influence or control over others
Power to make people do what you want, often by using force or strong influence.
Usage pattern:
use [someone's] muscle in [a situation]
Synonyms
clout (Informal; emphasizes social or political influence.)
Antonyms
powerlessness (Lack of ability to influence others.)
Collocations
political muscle
|financial muscle
|flex muscle
Themes
business
|politics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They used their political muscle to pass the law.
- The union flexed its muscle during negotiations.
- Big companies have more financial muscle.
Learner examples
- The boss has a lot of muscle in the company.
- They used their muscle to get what they want.
- The group showed their muscle in the protest.
Grammar
Dictionary form
muscle
IPA
GB/mˈʌsəl/
US/mˈʌsəl/
Syllables & stress
muscle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (muscle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: muscle
- Plural: muscle, muscles
Word family
Forms
muscles
noun
Core family
muscular
adjective B1
Related words
muscly
adjective
Advanced or less common
musculature
noun
muscularity
noun
Expressions
muscle in on
2/mˈʌsəl ˈɪn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
Force into something uninvited
To get involved in something without being asked, often in a pushy way.
Examples
- He muscled in on their conversation.
- Big companies are muscling in on the small business market.
pull a muscle
1/pˈʊl ə mˈʌsəl/
fixed phrase
Injure a muscle by strain
To hurt a muscle by stretching it too much.
Examples
- I pulled a muscle in my back while lifting boxes.
- She pulled a leg muscle during the race.
with muscles like that
3/wˈɪθ mˈʌsəlz lˈaɪk ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
Comment about large muscles
Used to say someone has very big or strong muscles.
Examples
- With muscles like that, he could be a bodybuilder.
- With muscles like that, she must work out every day.
flex your muscles
1/flˈɛks jˈʊɹ mˈʌsəlz/
idiom
informal
Show off power or strength
To show your strength or power to warn people or make them respect you.
Examples
- The army is flexing its muscles with a large military parade.
- The company flexed its muscles by lowering prices to beat competitors.
flex your muscles
2/flˈɛks jˈʊɹ mˈʌsəlz/
idiom
show or use your power
to use or show your power or strength in a clear way so that people can see what you can do
Examples
- The country is flexing its muscles with a series of military exercises.
- The new manager flexed her muscles by changing several key policies in her first week.
- Smaller creators are starting to flex their muscles on the platform.