biceps: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

B1
UK/ˈbaɪ.seps/US/ˈbaɪ.seps/

Neutral. Technical in anatomical/medical contexts, informal in fitness/general use.

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Quick answer

What does “biceps” mean?

A large muscle at the front of the upper arm, responsible for flexing the elbow.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A large muscle at the front of the upper arm, responsible for flexing the elbow.

In general anatomical contexts, 'biceps' can refer to any muscle with two points of origin (heads). Colloquially, it is a symbol of strength and athleticism.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. Minor variation in plural verb agreement in formal writing; both treat it as plural when referring to the pair.

Connotations

Identical. Strongly associated with weightlifting, fitness, and physical strength in both cultures.

Frequency

Equally common. Slightly higher frequency in American media due to a larger fitness culture, but negligible difference.

Grammar

How to Use “biceps” in a Sentence

to flex [POSSESSIVE] bicepsto work/develop [POSSESSIVE] bicepsa strain in [POSSESSIVE] biceps

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
flex your bicepsbulging bicepswell-defined bicepswork your bicepsbiceps curl
medium
strong bicepssore bicepstoned bicepsdevelop your bicepsbiceps muscle
weak
massive bicepshuge bicepspowerful bicepsinjured bicepsstrain your biceps

Examples

Examples of “biceps” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • He was bicepping heavy weights at the gym. (informal, rare)

American English

  • You need to biceps curl with proper form. (informal, from 'biceps curl' verbalised)

adjective

British English

  • A biceps tendon injury kept him out of the match. (attributive noun use)

American English

  • He focused on his biceps workout. (attributive noun use)

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare. Possible in metaphorical use: 'The company flexed its financial biceps.'

Academic

Common in biological, medical, and sports science texts.

Everyday

Common in contexts of exercise, fitness, and casual descriptions of physique.

Technical

Specific anatomical term: 'The biceps brachii originates from the scapula.'

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “biceps”

Strong

guns (slang)pythons (slang)

Neutral

upper arm musclearm muscle

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “biceps”

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “biceps”

  • Using 'bicep' as the singular (non-standard but increasingly common in informal speech).
  • Treating 'biceps' as a singular noun with a regular plural 'bicepses' in everyday language.
  • Misspelling as 'bicepts'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In standard English, 'biceps' serves as both singular and plural, especially in everyday use. In highly formal anatomical writing, 'bicepses' is possible but rare. The paired muscles are often treated as plural: 'His biceps are impressive.'

While 'bicep' is frequently heard in informal speech and is listed in some modern dictionaries as a variant, it is often considered non-standard. 'Biceps' is the preferred and traditional form for both singular and plural references.

The biceps is a muscle on the front of the upper arm with two heads, primarily responsible for elbow flexion and forearm supination. The triceps is a muscle on the back of the upper arm with three heads, responsible for elbow extension. They are antagonistic muscles.

Yes, though not extremely common. It can metaphorically represent strength or power, e.g., 'The country showed its diplomatic biceps during the negotiations.'

A large muscle at the front of the upper arm, responsible for flexing the elbow.

Biceps is usually neutral. technical in anatomical/medical contexts, informal in fitness/general use. in register.

Biceps: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.seps/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.seps/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • He's all biceps and no brain. (pejorative: strong but stupid)
  • to flex one's biceps (literal, or metaphorically to show off strength/power)

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think BI- (two) + -CEPS (from Latin 'caput' meaning head). The biceps muscle has two 'heads' where it attaches.

Conceptual Metaphor

STRENGTH IS PHYSICAL SIZE/MUSCLE (e.g., 'the biceps of the economy').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
To build bigger , you should incorporate exercises like curls and chin-ups into your routine.
Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct anatomical description of the biceps?