biceps

noun

bi·​ceps ˈbī-ˌseps How to pronounce biceps (audio)
plural biceps also bicepses
: a muscle having two heads: such as
a
or bicep or biceps brachii : the large flexor muscle of the front of the upper arm
Despite a torn left biceps, Holmes used his jab, one of the best in heavyweight history, to win four of the first five rounds.Jack McCallum
… they hold a dumbbell in each hand and do lateral raises with one arm while performing bicep curls with the other.Chloe Busch
The biceps brachii, the rounded muscles that are easily identifiable, consists of a long and short head.Eric Sternlicht
b
usually biceps femoris : the large flexor muscle of the back of the upper leg
Doctors had found a malignant tumor in her right biceps femoris muscle. … She had surgery at the end of February to have the growth and part of her hamstring muscle removed …Kelyn Soong

Examples of biceps in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Week 3 and center Corey Linsley was out for three games because of various injuries. Joe Reedy, ajc, 17 Jan. 2023 Rashawn Slater went down in Week 3 to a biceps injury, Bosa missed most of the season because of groin injury and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were both in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2023 Morgan Moses suffered a biceps injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 16-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ryan McFadden, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2023 He has been sidelined since Sept. 2 with a left biceps strain. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for biceps 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biceps.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin bicipit-, biceps, from Latin, two-headed, from bi- + capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biceps was circa 1641

Dictionary Entries Near biceps

Cite this Entry

“Biceps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biceps. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

biceps

noun
bi·​ceps ˈbī-ˌseps How to pronounce biceps (audio)
plural biceps
: a muscle having the end at which it begins divided into two parts
especially : a large muscle of the front of the upper arm

Medical Definition

biceps

noun
bi·​ceps ˈbī-ˌseps How to pronounce biceps (audio)
plural biceps also bicepses
: a muscle having two heads: as
a or bicep or biceps brachii
also biceps flexor cubiti : the large flexor muscle of the front of the upper arm arising by its short head from the coracoid process and by its long head from the upper margin of the glenoid cavity and being inserted into the tuberosity of the radius
b
or biceps femoris also biceps flexor cruris : the large flexor muscle of the back of the upper leg that arises by its long head from the tuberosity of the ischium and by its short head from the shaft of the femur, that is inserted into the head of the fibula, its tendon forming the outer hamstring, and that flexes the leg on the thigh and extends the thigh on the trunk

More from Merriam-Webster on biceps

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!