- muscle
- mus|cle1 [ `mʌsl ] noun ***1. ) count or uncount a piece of flesh that connects one bone to another and is used for moving a particular part of your body:These exercises are good for your stomach muscles.pull a muscle (=injure a muscle): He limped out of the game after pulling a muscle.a ) count one of the big lumps you can see on someone's arms, legs, chest, etc. that show that they are strong, especially because they do a lot of exercise2. ) uncount physical strength:It's going to take a lot of muscle to lift the refrigerator.a ) the power that a person or organization uses to influence or control a situation:military/financial/political muscleThe stars will use their muscle to make the campaign a success.3. ) uncount INFORMAL men who are employed by someone to protect them or use force to make other people obey themnot move a muscleto stay completely still:Don't move a muscle or someone will hear us.put some muscle into it SPOKENused for telling someone to make more effort to do somethingmusclemus|cle 2 [ `mʌsl ] verb,muscle `in phrasal verb intransitiveto use your power or influence to get involved in a situation in which you are not needed or wanted:They are trying to muscle in and take away our customers.muscle in on: We didn't appreciate his muscling in on our conversation.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.