quads

A family rides a quads bike along a park path.

Definition

1. Noun (plural, informal):
   • Quadruplets: "quads" is a shortened, informal term for quadruplets — four children born from the same pregnancy.
   • Quadriceps muscles: In anatomy and fitness contexts, "quads" refers to the quadriceps femoris, the large muscle group at the front of the thigh.
   • Quad bikes: In some informal uses, "quads" can mean quad bikes (four-wheeled off-road vehicles).
   • Quadruple sets: In printing or computing, "quads" may refer to a set of four identical items or pages (e.g., in typesetting, a quad is a piece of type used for spacing).

Usage Examples

• Quadruplets:

  • The couple was overjoyed when they learned they were expecting quads. (They were expecting four babies.)
  • The quads all have different personalities despite looking alike. (The four siblings born together.)

• Quadriceps muscles:

  • He felt a burning sensation in his quads after the squat workout. (His thigh muscles ached.)
  • Stretching your quads before running helps prevent injury. (Stretching the front thigh muscles.)

• Quad bikes (less common):

  • They rented quads to explore the desert trails. (They rented four-wheeled vehicles.)

Advanced Usage

• "to work one's quads": to exercise the quadriceps muscles specifically.

  • Lunges are excellent for working your quads. (Lunges strengthen the front thigh muscles.)

• "quads of steel": a humorous or admiring phrase for very strong, well-developed quadriceps.

  • After months of cycling, he has quads of steel. (He has extremely strong thigh muscles.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quad (singular): a single member of a set of quadruplets, or one of the quadriceps muscles.

  • One quad was smaller than the others. (One of the four babies or one thigh muscle.)

• Quadruplet (n): full term for one of four children born together.

  • She is a quadruplet, born with three sisters. (She is one of four siblings from a multiple birth.)

• Quadriceps (n): the full anatomical term for the thigh muscle group.

  • The quadriceps consists of four separate muscles. (The front thigh muscle group.)

Synonyms

• Four babies: quadruplets, four of a kind.
• Thigh muscles: quadriceps, front thighs.

Related Idioms

• "Quads of a champion": exceptional strength in the quadriceps, often used in sports commentary.
  • The runner's quads of a champion propelled her to victory. (Her powerful thigh muscles helped her win.)

Notes on Usage

• The meaning of "quads" depends heavily on context. In a medical or family setting, it usually means quadruplets. In a gym or sports context, it almost always means quadriceps. In outdoor recreation, it may refer to quad bikes. Always clarify if the context is ambiguous.