musclenoun/ˈmʌs.əl/

• 1

  A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.

  • Muscle consists largely of actin and myosin filaments.
  • For as the Trunk of the Body, is kept from tilting forvvard by the Muſcules of the Back: So, from falling backvvard, by theſe of the Belly.
• 2

  An organ composed of muscle tissue.

  • His brow and hair and the palms of his hands were wet, and there was a kind of nervous contraction of his muscles. They seemed to ripple and string tense.
  • You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker […]
• 3

  A well-developed physique, in which the muscles are enlarged from exercise.

  • 2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xii The fact that I was middle-aged, bald, married, and raising girls instead of chasing them didn't really bother me. Muscles are cool at any age.
• 4

  Strength, force.

  • The widely-backed campaign to recall Evan Mecham as governor of Arizona gained even more muscle when the state House of Representatives voted to impeach the ultraconservative on February 5.
  • The lesson to be drawn from the events of 1914, to Roosevelt's mind, was that civilization needed muscle to defend it, not just solemn words.
• 5

  Hired strongmen or bodyguards.

  • It was easy enough to dodge him, let him crash into the floorboards. Peltroc knew that his priority was the leader, not the hired muscle.

muscleverb/ˈmʌs.əl/

• 1

  To use force to make progress, especially physical force.

  • He muscled his way through the crowd.
  • Hensel and Wilson hit a series of leg shots simultaneously as Christian muscles between them with Quinn right on his heels.
• 2

  To move forcefully or with great strength.

  • She muscled through the ruins.