mus‧cle 1 S2 W3 / mʌs ə l / 名词

1 [可数和不可数名词] one of the pieces of flesh inside your body that you use in order to move, and that connect your bones together :

Relax your stomach muscles , then stretch again.

Regular exercise will help to strengthen your muscles .

Rooney has pulled a muscle in his thigh and won’t play tomorrow.

2 not move a muscle to stay completely still :

The soldier stood without moving a muscle.

3 [不可数名词] power or influence

military/economic/political etc muscle

The unions have a lot of political muscle.

The agreement will give the UN some muscle to enforce human rights.

4 [不可数名词] physical strength and power :

It took muscle to work in an old-fashioned kitchen.

put some muscle into it (= used to tell someone to work harder )

→ flex your muscles at flex 1 ( 2 )

COLLOCATIONS

形容词

big muscles He’s developed big arm muscles.

hard muscles (= strong, firm muscles ) the hard muscles of his back and shoulders

arm/leg/stomach etc muscles Her leg muscles ached after the run.

rippling muscles (= muscles that move in a strong attractive way ) The sight of his rippling muscles sends women wild.

动词

use your muscles Bend your knees and use your thigh muscles when picking up heavy objects.

strengthen/build up your muscles (= make them stronger ) If you strengthen the muscles in your back you are less likely to have back problems.

pull/strain a muscle (= injure it ) He pulled a muscle in his calf.

stretch your muscles It’s a good idea to stretch your muscles after weight lifting.

flex your muscles (= bend your arm muscles so that people can see how strong you are ) He was lifting weights and flexing his muscles.

relax your muscles (= make them feel less tight ) A hot bath will help relax sore muscles.

tense/tighten your muscles (= make them more tight ) He tensed his stomach muscles, ready for the blow.

your muscles contract (= tighten so that you can move a part of your body ) These nerves tell the muscles when to contract.

your muscles ache (= hurt after being exercised too much ) I ran until my muscles ached.

muscle + NOUN

muscle strength/power This exercise will help increase muscle strength.

muscle tone (= the firmness of your muscles ) Swimming is good exercise for improving muscle tone.

a muscle spasm (= when your muscles tighten suddenly ) The drug helps control painful muscle spasms.

muscle tissue (= the substance that muscles are made from ) If you lose weight too quickly you will lose muscle tissue as well as fat.