quadriceps
noun
quad·ri·ceps
ˈkwä-drə-ˌseps 
plural quadriceps also quadricepses
: the greater extensor muscle of the front of the thigh that is divided into four parts
Examples of quadriceps in a Sentence
He felt a pain in his right quadriceps.
Recent Examples on the Web
His scoring helped the Bulls snap a three-game losing streak and win their first game since DeMar DeRozan strained his right quadriceps last week against the Boston Celtics.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2023
On Saturday, France, the defending champion, was dealt a blow when its superstar striker, Karim Benzema, was ruled out of the tournament after tearing his left quadriceps in a training session.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022
McGlinchey missed the final nine games and playoffs a season ago with torn quadriceps.
—Vincent Frank, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022
Then there’s Gerald McCoy, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal in 2020 and ruptured his quadriceps in training camp and never played a game.
—Dallas News, 11 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for quadriceps 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2023
On Saturday, France, the defending champion, was dealt a blow when its superstar striker, Karim Benzema, was ruled out of the tournament after tearing his left quadriceps in a training session.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022
McGlinchey missed the final nine games and playoffs a season ago with torn quadriceps.
—Vincent Frank, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022
Then there’s Gerald McCoy, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal in 2020 and ruptured his quadriceps in training camp and never played a game.
—Dallas News, 11 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for quadriceps
Articles Related to quadriceps
Dictionary Entries Near quadriceps
Cite this Entry
“Quadriceps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadriceps. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
quadriceps
noun
quad·ri·ceps
ˈkwäd-rə-ˌseps
: a large extensor muscle of the front of the thigh divided above into four parts which include the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis, and which unite in a single tendon to enclose the patella as a sesamoid bone at the knee and insert as the patellar tendon into the tuberosity of the tibia
called also quadriceps femoris, quadriceps muscle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share