Meaning of muscle In English

• 0 one of many tissues in the body that can tighten and relax to produce movement:

  • neck/back/leg/stomach muscles

  • facial muscles

  • bulging/rippling (= large and clear to see) muscles

  • He flexed his muscles (= tightened them to make them look large and strong) so that everyone could admire them.

  • These exercises build muscle and increase stamina.

  • a muscle spasm (= a sudden uncontrollable tightening movement)

  • Russell pulled a back muscle early in the game.

• 1 the power to do difficult things or to make people behave in a certain way:

  • This magazine has considerable financial muscle and can afford to pay top journalists.

  • The company lacks the marketing muscle to compete with drug giants.

• 2 one or more people who are and look strong and powerful, especially people employed to protect someone or frighten other people:

  • The men he employs as muscle are locked in a game of who's the hardest.

  • The plotters used members of the mob as muscle.

• 3 a mass of tissue in the body, often attached to bones, that can tighten and relax to produce movement

  • [ U ] Republicans are flexing some political muscle.

• 4 to force your way into a place or situation:

  • [ T ] Starks muscled his way to the basket.

  • [ I ] Amanda muscled in on our meeting.

• 5 the power to do difficult things or to make people behave in a certain way:

  • We do have the financial muscle to compete effectively in this market.