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. 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. 1. in a precarious or questionable position

   2. isolated, esp because of unpopular opinions

verb

1. (tr) a rare word for dismember

limb

²

/ 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 called: fold limb. either of the sides of a geological fold

limb

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.

Other Word Forms

• limbless 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

Old English lim; related to Old Norse limr

Origin of limb²

C15: from Latin limbus edge

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.

see out on a limb; risk life and limb.

Synonym Study

See branch.

Example Sentences

A triathlete is ready to face life with no limbs after they were all amputated as she fought sepsis.

From BBC

Just along the corridor his colleague Nick Aresti does the upper limbs.

From BBC

One of the miracles of the fire is that the cedars did survive, mostly intact except for a few limbs that were broken in the fierce winds.

From Los Angeles Times

But his rebel group was notorious for hacking off their victims' limbs or parts of their faces.

From BBC

The putt from just inside 30 feet unerringly tracked before disappearing into the hole at perfect pace and both boys leapt, limbs flung in all directions, with uncontrolled delight.

From BBC

Related Words

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