Biceps Meaning
/ˈbaɪ.sɛps/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAny muscle having two heads.
nounSpecifically, the biceps brachii, the flexor of the elbow.
Sentence Examples
The hamstring muscles include the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus.
When men go to the gym it seems they really work their biceps.
He gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He flexed his ____ to show off his strength at the gym.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He used his strong ____ to lift the heavy weights at the gym today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwís Proto-Italic *dwis Old Latin duis Latin bis Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput Proto-Italic *kaput Proto-Indo-European *ís Proto-Italic *is Proto-Italic *-kaput-isder. Old Latin -cipesder. Latin -ceps Latin bicepsder. English biceps Derived from Latin biceps (“double-headed, two-peaked”), from bis (“twice”) + -ceps (“headed”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The leg is bent by the action of the flexor muscles situated on the back of the thigh, the chief of these being called the biceps of the leg."
— 1901, Michael Foster, Lewis E. Shore, Physiology for Beginners, page 73:
"The arm muscles are the show muscles of the physique. When someone asks to "see your muscles," they are most likely referring to your arms, and more specifically, your biceps."
— 1996, Robert Kennedy, Dwayne Hines II, Animal Arms, page 21:
"Today, Stonewall's flexed biceps measure 18 inches around."
— 1964 Dec, “Muscles are His Business”, in Ebony, volume 20, number 2, page 147:
"Biting her lip, she held his biceps for balance and waded farther."
— 2005, Lisa Plumley, Once Upon a Christmas, page 144:
"Odin examined the arm-ring, then pushed it onto his arm, up high on his biceps."
— 2017, Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 42:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He flexed his ____ to show off his strength at the gym.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He used his strong ____ to lift the heavy weights at the gym today.