Muscle I ˈmʌsl Relax Strain Heart Body Noun

• a calf/neck/thigh muscle
• all of this put strain on the heart muscle.
• to pull/tear/strain a muscle
• he poses and flexes his muscles in the mirror.

muscle

1. a piece of body tissue that you make tight and relax in order to move a particular part of the body; the tissue that forms the muscles of the body
• SEE ALSO abductor (2)
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/abductor#abductor_sng_2
• a calf/neck/thigh muscle
• All of this put strain on the heart muscle.
• to pull/tear/strain a muscle
• He poses and flexes his muscles in the mirror.
• This exercise will work the muscles of the lower back.
• Contract and relax the muscles in your fingers a few times.
• She tried to relax her tense muscles.
• He felt every muscle in his body tighten.
• He didn't move a muscle (= stood completely still).
• Lift weights to build muscle.
• muscle fibre/tissue/mass

Extra Examples

• The disease puts strain on the heart muscle.
• His muscles rippled beneath his T-shirt as he worked.
• I laughed so hard I almost pulled a muscle.
• I walked up and down the aisle to stretch my cramped muscles.
• Learn how to relax tense muscles.
• Lifting weights sculpts muscle.
• Suddenly my sore muscles protested and I let out a groan.
• The muscles in my face tensed.
• diet supplements to build muscle
• the muscles controlling speech production
2. physical strength
• He's an intelligent player but lacks the muscle of older competitors.
• I exerted every ounce of my miserable muscle power.
3. the power and influence to make others do what you want
• to exercise political/industrial/financial muscle
• The countries tried to flex their collective muscle.
• This show gives the artist the chance to flex his creative muscle.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from French, from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus ‘mouse’ (some muscles being thought to be mouse-like in form).