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

She added she had sores on her elbows from being on her front and was scheduled to remain in the clinic for two weeks.

From BBC

But what would have been a fortuitous goal was chalked off because the ball was deemed to have hit his elbow, which was tight to his body.

From BBC

Even so, as data centers elbowed into residential areas, complaints about noise and more pushed officials to tighten oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite receiving treatment from the team's physio at half-time, Lang did not realise the cut on his elbow had been infected until he noticed swelling and increasing pain during a night shift that evening.

From BBC

Katherine sat down on the curb, her elbows propped on her knees, her face caught in her hands.

From Literature

Related Words

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