biceps

noun

bi·​ceps ˈbī-ˌseps 

plural biceps also bicepses

: a muscle having two heads: such as

a

or bicep

ˈbī-ˌsep 

or biceps brachii

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

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

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

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

Kids Definition

biceps

noun

bi·​ceps ˈbī-ˌseps 

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 

plural biceps also bicepses

: a muscle having two heads: as

a or bicep

ˈbī-ˌsep 

or biceps brachii

-ˈbrā-kē-ˌē, -ˌī 

also biceps flexor cubiti

-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

-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