triceps

[ trahy-seps ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural tri·ceps·es [trahy, -sep-siz], tri·ceps.

1. a muscle having three heads or points of origin, especially the muscle on the back of the arm, the action of which straightens the elbow.

triceps

/ ˈtraɪsɛps /

noun

1. any muscle having three heads, esp the one ( triceps brachii ) that extends the forearm

triceps

/ trī′sĕps′ /

1. The muscle at the back of the upper arm that raises and lowers the forearm. The triceps has three points of attachment to bone at its origin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceps¹

1570–80; < Latin: three-headed, equivalent to tri- tri- + -ceps, stem -cipit- -headed, derivative of caput head

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceps¹

C16: from Latin, from tri- + caput head

Example Sentences

Your triceps muscle engages to draw your arm behind you, stretching the soft tissues of the chest like a rubber band that then releases to spring the arm forward with free, elastic energy.

From Outside Online

Your triceps muscle, stationed on the underside of your upper arm, shortened.

From The Daily Beast

One was through his bicep, and the other on his triceps, and it looked as though the bullet went straight through.

From The Daily Beast

Baggy, pedestrian clothing hides their lean muscles; there are no perceptible rock-like calves, no prominent triceps or pectorals.

From The Daily Beast

A typical pair of opposed muscles are the biceps and triceps of the upper arm.

From Project Gutenberg

In this case the biceps must exert two units of strength more than the triceps, that is, seven units.

From Project Gutenberg

"Set" the muscles of the arm by contracting the biceps and triceps with the utmost possible strength.

From Project Gutenberg

The triceps brachii is the chief antagonist of the biceps brachii.

From Project Gutenberg

And you find that the triceps has three origins high above its one attachment as a tendon, to give it a good strong pull.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• branch
• rod
• wing