Muscle /(mŭs"'l)/

Mus·cle

Muscle

n.
  1. An organ which, by its contraction, produces motion. (Anat.)
  2. Muscular strength or development; as, to show one's muscle by lifting a heavy weight. [Colloq.]
  3. See Mussel. (Zool.)
  4. An essential part of something; as, budget cuts have gone beyond the fat and are cutting into the muscle of the government.
  5. Bodyguards or other persons hired to provide protection or commit violence; as, he doesn't go out without his muscle along. [slang]

Phrases & Compounds
Muscle curve
contraction curve of a muscle; a myogram; the curve inscribed, upon a prepared surface, by means of a myograph when acted upon by a contracting muscle. The character of the curve represents the extent of the contraction.

muscle

v. t.
  1. To compel by threat of force; as, they muscled the shopkeeper into paying protection money.
  2. To moved by human force; as, to muscle the piano onto the truck.