muscle

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   Body tissue made of fibers that can tighten and relax to produce movement or force.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to specific muscles (e.g., 'a muscle'); uncountable when referring to the tissue in general (e.g., 'muscle tissue').

   Patterns

   • muscle tissue
   • pull a muscle
   • build muscle

   He pulled a muscle in his leg while running.

   Regular exercise helps build muscle and improve strength.

   The heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body.

2. 2noununcountableinformalfigurative

   Power or influence, especially in business or politics, used to achieve something.

   Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'financial muscle' or 'political muscle'; not used with 'a'.

   Patterns

   • financial muscle
   • political muscle
   • use one's muscle

   The company used its financial muscle to take over its rival.

   The union showed its political muscle during the negotiations.

   They don't have the muscle to change the law.

Word forms

Common combinations

muscle tissue

Muscle tissue can be damaged by overexertion.

pull a muscle

She pulled a muscle in her back lifting the box.

build muscle

Lifting weights helps build muscle.

financial muscle

The bank used its financial muscle to influence the deal.

muscle strain

He suffered a muscle strain during the game.

Synonyms and how they differ

brawn

Refers to physical strength, especially in a muscular body; 'muscle' is the tissue itself and can also mean influence.

power

A general word for ability to control or influence; 'muscle' in the figurative sense is more informal and often implies force or pressure.

Opposites

Word family

muscular adjective

Having well-developed muscles; also relating to muscles.

musculature noun

The system of muscles in a body or an organ.

Commonly confused: muscle or mussel?

Practice

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