Gym Jargon - Definitions of Common Weight Room Terms

by Maia Appleby

Anyone new to weightlifting might feel intimidated when people at the gym use terms they don't understand. Here's a glossary defining some of the most common:

• Abductors - Hip muscles that bring the legs out to the sides of the body.
• Abs - General term for the abdominal (tummy) muscles, which includes the upper and lower abs, and the internal and external obliques.
• Achilles tendon - Connects the calf to the heel.
• Adductors - Muscles that bring the legs in toward the body (opposite of abductors).
• Atrophy - The muscular result of ignoring the "use it or lose it" mantra.
• Biceps - Muscles located on the front of the upper arm
• Cardiovascular - Exercise that raises the heart rate and burns fat, like walking, running, bicycling and swimming.
• Curl - Any exercise that involves bending at a joint to bring a weight closer to the body.
• Delts (deltoids) - Shoulder muscles.
• Extension - Any exercise that involves straightening at a joint to bring a weight further from the body.
• Free weights - Dumbbells, barbells, ankle weights, etc.
• Glutes (gluteals) - General term for the buttock muscles, including the gluteus minimus, medius and maximus.
• Hamstrings - Muscles located on the back of the thighs.
• Lats Back muscles.
• Obliques - Muscles at the sides of the abdomen.
• Pecs (pectorals) - Chest muscles.
• Quads (quadriceps) - Muscles located on the front of the thighs.
• Rectus Abdominus - Largest abdominal muscle, often called the "upper abs".
• Rep - One repetition of a weight lifting move.
• Set - A group of repetitions in a weight lifting routine.
• Triceps - Y-shaped group of muscles located on the back of the arm.
• Weight bearing exercise - Exercise that involves bearing one's own weight, like walking or using an elliptical trainer.