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 return follows the Monday returns of starting power forward Caleb Martin from a five-game absence with a strained left quadriceps and starting shooting guard Tyler Herro from a three-game absence due to a sore left Achilles.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023
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
All-Pro dual-threat wideout Deebo Samuel will play Sunday against the Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium after he was listed as questionable with a deep quadriceps bruise that severely limited him in practice throughout the week.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2022
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
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Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023
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
All-Pro dual-threat wideout Deebo Samuel will play Sunday against the Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium after he was listed as questionable with a deep quadriceps bruise that severely limited him in practice throughout the week.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2022
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
See All Example Sentences for quadriceps
Cite this Entry
“Quadriceps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadriceps. Accessed 3 Nov. 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
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