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,... athletic brawny muscled powerful strong

3 adj · showing great force,... vigorous

Word family

Forms muscularity

Derived forms bimuscularcardiomuscularcorticomuscularcutaneomusculardermomuscularelastomuscularelectromuscularepimuscularepitheliomuscularextramuscularfaciomuscularfaradomuscular

Related forms musculaturemusculo-myo-

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

muscular tonus
the normal resting tension maintained in muscles

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Late 17th century; from muscle (Latin mūsculus) + -ar. Compare French musculaire.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# 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

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