muscular C1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈmʌs.kjə.lɚ/ UK /ˈmʌs.kjʊl.ə/ See IPA manual Freq #14394 Meanings 1 adj Having well-developed, strong muscles Years of swimming had given him broad, muscular shoulders. 2 adj Relating to or made of muscle The injury caused a painful muscular contraction in his leg. 3 adj Showing great force, energy, or determination The government took a muscular approach to fighting crime. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · having well-developed,... athleticbrawnymuscledpowerfulstrong 3 adj · showing great force,... vigorous Word family Forms muscularity Derived forms bimuscularcardiomuscularcorticomuscularcutaneomusculardermomuscularelastomuscularelectromuscularepimuscularepitheliomuscularextramuscularfaciomuscularfaradomuscular Related forms musculaturemusculo-myo- Common collocations muscular tonus Adjective + noun Etymology AI details Late 17th century; from muscle (Latin mūsculus) + -ar. Compare French musculaire. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # muscular **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈmʌs.kjə.lɚ/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈmʌs.kjʊl.ə/ **Frequency rank:** 14394 ## Meanings 1. Having well-developed, strong muscles 2. Relating to or made of muscle 3. Showing great force, energy, or determination ## Examples - Years of swimming had given him broad, muscular shoulders. - The injury caused a painful muscular contraction in his leg. - The government took a muscular approach to fighting crime. ## Derived Forms - bimuscular - cardiomuscular - corticomuscular - cutaneomuscular - dermomuscular - elastomuscular - electromuscular - epimuscular - epitheliomuscular - extramuscular - faciomuscular - faradomuscular ## Related Forms - musculature - musculo- - myo- ## Etymology Late 17th century; from muscle (Latin mūsculus) + -ar. Compare French musculaire. ## AI Etymology Muscular is traced through late 17th century; from muscle (Latin mūsculus) + -ar. Compare French musculaire. In present-day use, it can mean having well-developed, strong muscles, or relating to or made of muscle. Derived formations include bimuscular, cardiomuscular, corticomuscular, cutaneomuscular, and dermomuscular. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown