muscle: Meaning and Definition of

mus•cle

1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body.
2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a particular movement.
3. muscular strength; brawn: It will take a great deal of muscle to move this box.
4. power or force, esp. of a coercive nature: They put muscle into their policy and sent the marines.
5. lean meat.
6. a gangster protected by muscle.
1. a hired thug or thugs.
2. a bodyguard or bodyguards:a gangster protected by muscle.
7. a necessary or fundamental thing, quality, etc.: The editor cut the muscle from the article.

1. to force or compel others to make way for: He muscled his way into the conversation.
2. to make more muscular: The dancing lessons muscled her legs.
3. to strengthen or toughen; put muscle into.
4. to accomplish by muscular force: to muscle the partition into place.
5. to force or compel, as by threats, promises, influence, or the like: to muscle a bill through Congress.

1. to make one's way by force or fraud (often fol. by in or into).

1. (of a machine, engine, or vehicle) being very powerful or capable of high-speed performance: a muscle power saw.