muscle

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C,U] a piece of body tissue that you tighten and relax in order to move a particular part of the body; the tissue that forms the muscles of the body: a calf / neck / thigh muscle * to pull / tear / strain a muscle * This exercise will work the muscles of the lower back. * She tried to relax her tense muscles. * He felt every muscle in his body tighten. * He didn't move a muscle (= stood completely still). 2 [U] physical strength: He's an intelligent player but lacks the muscle of older competitors. 3 [U] the power and influence to make others do what you want: to exercise political / industrial / financial muscle muscled adjective: heavily muscled shoulders IDIOMS see FLEXv. verb PHRASALVERBS muscle in (on sb/sth) (informal, disapproving) to involve yourself in a situation when you have no right to do so, in order to get sth for yourself