limb

¹

[ lim ]

noun

1. a part or member of an animal body distinct from the head and trunk, as a leg, arm, or wing:

   the lower limbs;

   artificial limbs.

   Synonyms: extremity

2. a large or main branch of a tree.
3. a projecting part or member:

   the four limbs of a cross.

4. a person or thing regarded as a part, member, branch, offshoot, or scion of something:

   a limb of the central committee.

5. Archery. the upper or lower part of a bow.
6. Informal. a mischievous child, imp, or young scamp.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut the limbs from (a felled tree).

limb

²

[ lim ]

noun

1. Astronomy. the edge of the disk of the sun, a moon, or a planet.
2. the graduated edge of a quadrant or similar instrument.
3. Botany.
   1. the upper spreading part of a gamopetalous corolla.
   2. the expanded portion of a petal, sepal, or leaf.

limb

¹

/ lɪm /

noun

1. the edge of the apparent disc of the sun, a moon, or a planet
2. a graduated arc attached to instruments, such as the sextant, used for measuring angles
3. botany
   1. the expanded upper part of a bell-shaped corolla
   2. the expanded part of a leaf, petal, or sepal
4. either of the two halves of a bow
5. Also calledfold limb either of the sides of a geological fold

limb

²

/ lɪm /

noun

1. an arm or leg, or the analogous part on an animal, such as a wing
2. any of the main branches of a tree
3. a branching or projecting section or member; extension
4. a person or thing considered to be a member, part, or agent of a larger group or thing
5. a mischievous child (esp in limb of Satan or limb of the devil )
6. out on a limb
   1. in a precarious or questionable position
   2. isolated, esp because of unpopular opinions

verb

1. tr a rare word for dismember

limb

/ lĭm /

1. One of the appendages of an animal, such as an arm of a starfish, the flipper of dolphins, or the arm and leg of a human, used for locomotion or grasping.
2. The expanded tip of a plant organ, such as a petal or corolla lobe.
3. The circumferential edge of the apparent disk of a celestial body.

Derived Forms

• ˈlimbless, adjective

Other Words From

• limb·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of limb¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lim, lim(m)e, Old English lim; akin to Old Norse lim “small branches, foliage,” limr “limb, joint (of meat),” līmi “broom (of twigs), rod,” Latin līmus “askew, aslant,” līmen “transverse beam, threshold, lintel”; the spelling limb first appears at the end of the 16th century, probably influenced by limb ²( def )

Origin of limb²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English limbe, from Old French limbe, and Latin limbus limbus ²; limbo ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of limb¹

C15: from Latin limbus edge

Origin of limb²

Old English lim; related to Old Norse limr

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out on a limb, in a dangerous or compromising situation; vulnerable:

   The company overextended itself financially and was soon out on a limb.

More idioms and phrases containing limb

see out on a limb ; risk life and limb .

Synonym Study

See branch.

Example Sentences

A promising daily tablet is effective at increasing height and improving proportional limb growth in children with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, according to a new study.

From Science Daily

“Several others had broken limbs. The smuggler left us here and told us to run in the direction of the lights of Van city. Many of us were fading out of hunger. I fainted.”

From BBC

Homotherium had anatomy similar to modern African lions but with shorter bodies and longer limbs—and these differences already were evident in the 3-week old cub.

From Science Magazine

Hamish will need to get prosthetic limbs once the amputations have been completed.

From BBC

Under his tutelage, she made an impression on the dance world with her grace, long limbs and magnetic presence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arm
• branch
• extremity
• leg
• stem
• wheel
• wing