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

He peppered the off-side boundary with a high front elbow, sweet timing and a beautifully straight bat.

From BBC

McVay said last week that safety Quentin Lake would return from an elbow injury and play against the Cardinals, but the Rams chose to give him one more week.

From Los Angeles Times

Lake has been sidelined since suffering a left elbow injury that required surgery.

From Los Angeles Times

He has been sidelined for six games because of an elbow injury he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 16.

From Los Angeles Times

They learn to throw straight punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes and roundhouse kicks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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