[Vocabulary] the biceps of his right arm

[Saki6]

What is this man doing? Is he flexing the biceps of his right arm? Is he flexing the biceps in his right arm?

 

[Rover_KE]

Use 'of'.

I guess he's flexing more than his biceps.

 

[Tdol]

I would use of, but wouldn't be troubled by in.

 

[GoesStation]

He's flexing the muscles in his right arm, including his right biceps.

 

[emsr2d2]

If he were flexing only the bicep of/in his right arm, you could save yourself the confusion by saying "He's flexing his right bicep".

 

[Saki6]

Is "bicep" a singular form, and is "biceps" a plural form? "Biceps" are used both as a singular noun and as a plural noun, aren't they?

 

[emsr2d2]

"Bicep" is the singular noun. You have one bicep in each arm so, in total, you have two biceps.

 

[Saki6]

"Bicep" is the singular noun. You have one bicep in each arm so, in total, you have two biceps.

Is "the biceps of his right arm" incorrect but is "the bicep of his right arm" correct?

 

[jutfrank]

Is "the biceps of his right arm" incorrect but is "the bicep of his right arm" correct?

That's right.

 

[emsr2d2]

That's right, but as I pointed out in an earlier post, it's much more natural to say "his right bicep".

 

[Saki6]

Please take a look at this image. I'm wondering why the plural form is there.

Why is there no exact match found for “bicep”?

 

[bubbha]

"biceps" is actually singular. "ceps" is Latin for "head".

 

[Saki6]

Is there no such word as "bicep," then?

 

[Tdol]

Some dictionaries have found examples of the usage, but it is a minority usage:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bicep

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm very surprised about that! As I said in an earlier thread, as far as I'm concerned we have two biceps, one bicep in our right arm and one bicep in our left arm. I would expect the singular to be used whenever necessary. Mind you, it's a long time since my biceps did anything impressive, so what do I know?! ;-)

 

[GoesStation]

Nope. You have two biceps: one left biceps and one right biceps.

 

[emsr2d2]

Nope. You have two biceps: one left biceps and one right biceps.

To be honest, I'd be happy if I had any muscles worth mentioning but I'll bear that in mind. You learn something new every day, even about your own language!