MUSCULAR
mesomorphic, muscular
(adjective) having a robust muscular body-build characterized by predominance of structures (bone and muscle and connective tissue) developed from the embryonic mesodermal layer
muscular
(adjective) having or suggesting great physical power or force; “the muscular and passionate Fifth Symphony”
brawny, hefty, muscular, powerful, sinewy
(adjective) (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; “a hefty athlete”; “a muscular boxer”; “powerful arms”
muscular
(adjective) of or relating to or consisting of muscle; “muscular contraction”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
muscular (comparative more muscular, superlative most muscular)
Of, relating to, or connected with muscles.
Brawny, thewy, having strength.
Synonyms: athletic, beefy, brawny, husky, lusty, muscled, muscly, powerful, strapping, strong
Having large, well-developed muscles.
Synonyms: beefy, brawny, buff, husky, musclebound, muscled, muscly, powerfully built, swole, well-built
(figurative) Robust, strong.
Source: Wiktionary
Mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. musculaire. See Muscle.]
1. Of or pertaining to a muscle, or to a system of muscles;
consisting of, or constituting, a muscle or muscles; as, muscular
fiber.
Great muscular strength, accompanied by much awkwardness. Macaulay.
2. Performed by, or dependent on, a muscle or the muscles. "The
muscular motion." Arbuthnot.
3. Well furnished with muscles; having well-developed muscles;
brawny; hence, strong; powerful; vigorous; as, a muscular body or
arm. Muscular Christian, one who believes in a part of religious duty
to maintain a healthful and vigorous physical state. T. Hughes.
– Muscular CHristianity. (a) The practice and opinion of those
Christians who believe that it is a part of religious duty to
maintain a vigorous condition of the body, and who therefore approve
of athletic sports and exercises as conductive to good health, good
morals, and right feelings in religious matters. T. Hughes. (b) An
active, robust, and cheerful Christian life, as opposed to a
meditative and gloomy one. C. Kingsley.
– Muscular excitability (Physiol.), that property in virtue of
which a muscle shortens, when it is stimulated; irritability.
– Muscular sense (Physiol.), muscular sensibility; the sense by
which we obtain knowledge of the condition of our muscles and to what
extent they are contracted, also of the position of the various parts
of our bodies and the resistance offering by external objects.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition