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肌肉, 肌：
the calf muscle
小腿肚上的肌肉
mass noun the sheet of muscle between the abdomen and chest.腹胸之间的肌肉层。
1.1
- such a band or bundle of tissue when well developed or prominently visible under the skin凸显的肌肉：
showing off our muscles to prove how strong we were.
展示我们的肌肉来证明我们是多么强壮。
Muscles are formed of bands, sheets, or columns of elongated cells (or fibres) containing interlocking parallel arrays of the proteins actin and myosin. Projections on the myosin molecules respond to chemical signals by forming and reforming chemical bonds to the actin, so that the filaments move past each other and interlock more deeply. This converts chemical energy into the mechanical force of contraction, and also generates heat.
2
- mass noun physical power; strength体力; 气力：
he had muscle but no brains.
他身强力壮, 但头脑简单。
2.1
- informal a man or men exhibiting such power or strength〈非正式〉身强力壮的男子（们）, 孔武有力的人（们）：
an ex-marine of enormous proportions who'd been brought along as muscle.
一个被当作大力士带来的腰圆膀粗的前海军陆战队员。
2.2
- power or influence, especially in a commercial or political context（尤指商业、政治领域中的）权势, 势力; 影响力：
he had enough muscle and resources to hold his position on the council.
他有足够的影响力和智谋在市政会中任职。
with obj. and adverbial
1- N. Amer. informal move (an object) in a particular direction by using one's physical strength〈北美, 非正式〉用力搬动（物体）：
they were muscling baggage into the hold of the plane.
他们正用力把行李运进飞机货舱。
1.1
- informal, chiefly N. Amer. coerce by violence or by economic or political pressure〈非正式, 主北美〉以暴力迫使; 以经济（或政治）压力迫使：
he was eventually muscled out of his market.
他最终被逼让出了他的市场份额。
短语
flex one's muscles
- give a show of strength or power显示实力。
not move a muscle
- be completely motionless一动不动, 纹丝不动。
派生词
muscled
adjective肌肉坚实的
muscleless
adjective词源
late Middle English: from French, from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus 'mouse' （some muscles being thought to be mouse-like in form）.
短语动词
muscle in/into
- informal force one's way into (something), typically in order to gain an advantage〈非正式〉（为获取利益而）强行挤入（或插手）：
he was determined to muscle in on the union's affairs.
他决意强行插手工会事务。
muscle up
- US informal build up one's muscles〈美, 非正式〉使肌肉发达。