Abdominals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A set of muscles located in the front of the abdomen that aid in movement, stabilization, and maintaining posture
2. The core muscles surrounding the stomach area that play a crucial role in flexibility and strength during physical activity
3. A group of muscles that include the rectus abdominis and obliques, essential for trunk movement and supporting the pelvic and spine health

Etymology: "Abdominals" is the plural of "abdominal," an adjective that English turned into a noun for the muscles of the belly. The adjective first appeared in 1746, borrowed through New Latin "abdominalis" from the Latin "abdomen," which meant the belly or lower trunk of the body. The Latin word itself is usually traced to "abdere," to hide or put away, a sense that may reflect the belly being the region tucked inside the torso, though that connection is uncertain. The noun use, where the adjective stands alone for a body part, came later, and "abdominals" as a plural noun for the muscles is a casual gym-and-fitness usage. The muscles were named for the region they cover, so the word points to the location rather than to any particular muscle, much as "pectorals" refers to the chest.

Synonyms: abs, stomach muscles