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   Mus·cle

   /ˈməs(ə)l/

   

   noun

   • 1. a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body: "the calf muscle" Similar literary:thew
   • ▪ a band or bundle of tissue when well developed or prominently visible under the skin: "showing off our muscles to prove how strong we were"
   • 2. physical power; strength: "he had muscle but no brains" Similar strengthpowermuscularitybrawnbrawninessburlinesshuskinessinformal:beefbeefinessliterary:thew
   • ▪ a person or people exhibiting physical power or strength: informal "an ex-marine of enormous proportions who'd been brought along as muscle"
   • ▪ power or influence, especially in a commercial or political context: "he had enough muscle and resources to hold his position on the council" Similar influencepowerstrengthmightforceforcefulnessweightpotencyinformal:cloutbeefpull

   verb

   • 1. move (an object) in a particular direction by using one's physical strength: informal North American "they were muscling baggage into the hold of the plane"
   • ▪ coerce by violence or by economic or political pressure: informal North American "he was eventually muscled out of business"

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

   Derivatives

   • 1. muscleless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • M

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   • U

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   • S

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   • C

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   • L

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   • E

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