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

Explanation

Your elbow is the bendy part of your arm between your wrist and your shoulder. Sometimes people use their pointy elbows to elbow people out of the way. Your elbows are major joints in your arms, making it possible for you to do many things — including get scolded for having your elbows rudely on the table while you eat. Clothing can be said to have elbows as well: "I like your professor jacket with the patches on the elbows." Other inanimate objects with elbows include rivers and pipes: a sharp bend in either of these is also called an elbow.

Example Sentences

Among abelisaurids, the hands and lower sections of the arms beyond the elbow became dramatically smaller, with later species such as Majungasaurus developing exceptionally tiny hands.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

The Dodgers have said closer Edwin Díaz is expected to return from elbow surgery sometime after the All-Star break, which would confine that time frame to two weeks, if that.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

“Viewed positively, what the American revolution did was to give the common man a voice, a veto, elbow room and a refuge from the rampaging presumptions of his ‘betters.’

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The most important thing is to keep your money working for you as hard as it possibly can — and for that, you need to apply some elbow grease to keep it moving.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Augustina and Gertrude give Ama squeezes on the elbow and retreat deeper into the building.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

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