<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body.</li><li>an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a particular movement.</li><li>muscular strength; brawn: It will take a great deal of muscle to move this box.</li><li>force, might, vigor, power.</li><li>power or force, especially of a coercive nature: They put muscle into their policy and sent the marines.</li><li>lean meat.</li><li>Slang: a hired thug or thugs.</li><li>a bodyguard or bodyguards: a gangster protected by muscle.</li><li>a necessary or fundamental thing, quality, etc.: The editor cut the muscle from the article.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object):</strong></p><ul><li>to force or compel others to make way for: He muscled his way into the conversation.</li><li>to make more muscular: The dancing lessons muscled her legs.</li><li>to strengthen or toughen; put muscle into.</li><li>to accomplish by muscular force: to muscle the partition into place.</li><li>to force or compel, as by threats, promises, influence, or the like: to muscle a bill through Congress.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object):</strong></p><ul><li>to make one's way by force or fraud (often followed by in or into).</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective (Informal):</strong></p><ul><li>(of a machine, engine, or vehicle) being very powerful or capable of high-speed performance: a muscle power saw.</li></ul>