biceps

noun bi·ceps \ ˈbī-ˌseps \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of biceps

plural biceps also bicepses

: a muscle having two heads: such as

a or bicep play \ˈbī-ˌsep\ or biceps brachii play \ˈbī-ˌseps-ˈbrā-kē-ˌī, ˈbī-ˌseps-ˈbrā-kē-ˌē\ : 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 play \ˈbī-ˌseps-ˈfe-mə-rəs\ : 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

See biceps defined for English-language learners

See biceps defined for kids

Recent Examples of biceps from the Web

Cabrera first injured his the biceps on April 29 and missed three games.

— george sipple, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera to miss rest of 2018 season," 12 June 2018
Last season, Syndergaard refused a magnetic resonance imaging examination on his sore right biceps, tore his right latissimus in his next start and missed the next four and a half months.

— james wagner, New York Times, "Old Pest Torments Mets: The Injury Bug," 31 May 2018
Georgia scraped its way into the World Series despite losing ace pitcher Brittany Gray to a right biceps injury for the last half of the season.

— cliff brunt, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida State tops No. 1 seed Oregon in WCWS elimination game," 3 June 2018
Or that rookie infielder Scott Kingery was out with a bruised and swollen right biceps after being hit by a pitch one night earlier.

— scott lauber, Philly.com, "Aaron Nola cements ace status, stops Phillies' skid by dominating Marlins," 4 May 2018
With the exception of a couple of brief appearances, tendinitis in his right biceps has kept him off the mound.

— mark stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Jacob Bolwerk does the job for Living Word Lutheran no matter the season," 5 May 2018
Finnegan saw a return delayed this year with a left biceps strain.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Dylan Floro next up on Reds' bullpen carousel," 13 Apr. 2018
Massa tapes elbows, checks on knee and biceps injuries, wipes blood off cuts, stretches out players with cramps.

— ben baskin, SI.com, "No Helmets, No Pads, Full-Contact Tackle Football: Meet the Men of the A7FL," 4 Apr. 2018
Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy A torn biceps is in his past.

— aaron wilson, Houston Chronicle, "Texans DL Christian Covington fully cleared after torn biceps," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biceps.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of biceps

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1641

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

BICEPS Defined for English Language Learners

biceps

noun

Definition of biceps for English Language Learners

: a large muscle at the front of the upper arm

BICEPS Defined for Kids

biceps

noun bi·ceps \ ˈbī-ˌseps \

Definition of biceps for Students

plural biceps also bicepses

: a large muscle of the front of the upper arm

Medical Dictionary

biceps

noun bi·ceps \ ˈbī-ˌseps \

medical Definition of biceps

plural biceps also bicepses

: a muscle having two heads: as

a also biceps brachii play \-ˈbrā-kē-ˌē, -ˌī\

or biceps flexor cubiti play \-ˈflek-ˌsȯr-ˈkyü-bə-ˌtī, -bət-ē\ : 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 play \-ˈfē-mə-rəs, -ˈfem-ə-\ 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