elbow

American  

[el-boh] / ˈɛl boʊ /

noun

1. the bend or joint of the human arm between upper arm and forearm.

2. the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.

3. something bent like an elbow, as a sharp turn in a road or river, or a piece of pipe bent at an angle.

4. Architecture. crossette.

5. Also called ell, el.  a plumbing pipe or pipe connection having a right-angled bend.

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verb (used with object)

1. to push with or as if with the elbow; jostle.

2. to make (one's way) by so pushing.

verb (used without object)

1. to elbow one's way.

   He elbowed through the crowd.

idioms

1. at one's elbow, within easy reach; nearby.

   A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.

2. rub elbows with, to mingle socially with; associate with.

   a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.

3. out at the elbows, Also out at elbows.

   1. poorly dressed; shabby.

   2. impoverished.

4. bend / lift / crook an elbow, to drink alcoholic beverages.

5. give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.

6. up to one's elbows, very busy; engrossed: Also up to the elbows.

   I am up to my elbows in answering mail.

elbow British  

/ ˈɛlbəʊ /

noun

1. the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, formed by the junction of the radius and ulna with the humerus

2. the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals

3. the part of a garment that covers the elbow

4. something resembling an elbow, such as a sharp bend in a road or river

5. within easy reach

6. ragged or impoverished

7. busily occupied with; deeply immersed in

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verb

1. (tr) to reject; dismiss. Also: give the elbow

2. to make (one's way) by shoving, jostling, etc

3. (tr) to knock or shove with or as if with the elbow

elbow More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing elbow

• at someone's elbow
• crook one's elbow
• out at the elbows
• rub elbows with

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Etymology

Origin of elbow

before 1000; Middle English elbowe, Old English el ( n ) boga; cognate with Middle Dutch elle ( n ) bōghe, Old High German el ( l ) inbogo ( German Ellenbogen ), Old Norse ǫl ( n ) bogi; literally, “forearm-bend.” See ell ², bow ¹

Example Sentences

It will also add Airbus planes with new, lie-flat seats and more elbow and shoulder room.

From The Wall Street Journal

James, who took a hard spill in the fourth quarter and banged his right elbow, was officially nursing left foot arthritis.

From Los Angeles Times

Manchester fighter Murphy is unbeaten during the first 18 fights of his career with his last bout in August ending in spectacular fashion as he knocked out Aaron Pico with a spinning elbow.

From BBC

James was fouled by Jabari Smith Jr. on a break-away layup, forcing him down on the court and holding his right elbow.

From Los Angeles Times

Eyyub emerged from that chaotic reordering, and has since elbowed aside rivals to handle almost all of Rosneft’s shipments plus more oil from other Russian producers, the people familiar with his operations said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bulldoze
• bump
• hook
• hustle
• knock
• nudge
• shove