leg

[ leg ]
See synonyms for leg on Thesaurus.com
noun

  1. either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc., that support and move the body.

  2. Anatomy. the lower limb of a human being from the knee to the ankle.

  1. something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance.

  2. the part of a garment that covers the leg: the legs of pantyhose; his trouser leg.

  3. one of usually several, relatively tall, slender supports for a piece of furniture: sturdy piano legs.

  4. one of the sides of a forked object, as of a compass or pair of dividers.

  5. one of the sides of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.

  6. a timber, bar, or the like, serving to prop or shore up a structure.

  7. one of the flanges of an angle iron.

  8. one of the distinct sections of any course: the last leg of a trip.

  9. Nautical.

    • one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a sailing ship.

    • one straight or nearly straight part of a multiple-sided course in a sailing race.

  10. Sports.

    • one of a designated number of contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner.

    • one of the stretches or sections of a relay race.

  11. legs, Slang. staying power, especially the capacity to draw large audiences steadily over a long period: I had hoped for a bestseller, but my second novel had no legs.

  12. legs, (in wine tasting) the rivulets of wine that slowly descend along the inside of a glass after the wine has been swirled, sometimes regarded as an indication that the wine is full-bodied.

  13. Cricket.

    • the part of the field to the left of and behind the batsman as he faces the bowler or to the right of and behind him if he is left-handed.

    • the fielder playing this part of the field.

    • the position of this fielder.

  14. Electricity. a component or branch of a circuit, network, antenna, etc.

  15. Radio and Television. a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.

  16. bride2 (def. 1).

verb (used with object),legged, leg·ging.

  1. to move or propel (a boat) with the legs: They legged the boat through the tunnel.

Verb Phrases

  1. leg up, to help (someone) to mount a horse.

Idioms about leg

  1. break a leg. break (def. 113).

  2. leg it, Informal. to walk rapidly or run: We'd better leg it or we'll be late for class.

  1. leg up,

    • a means of help or encouragement; assist; boost: Studying the material with a tutor will give you a leg up on passing the exam.

    • advantage; edge.

  2. not have a leg to stand on, to lack a valid or logical basis for one's argument or attitude: Without evidence, the prosecutor doesn't have a leg to stand on.

  3. on one's / its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.: The aristocracy was on its last legs.

  4. pull someone's leg,

    • to make fun of someone; tease.

    • to deceive someone; trick someone: She thought someone was pulling her leg when she got the call from the Nobel Committee.

  5. shake a leg, Informal.

    • to hurry up: If you don't shake a leg, we'll miss the opening number.

    • Older Use. to dance: The dance floor was flooded with couples shaking a leg to the loud and lively music.

  6. stretch one's legs, to take a walk; get some needed exercise after prolonged sitting: He got up during the intermission to stretch his legs.

Origin of leg

1
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Old Norse leggr, akin to Greek láx, lágdēn “with the foot”

Other words from leg

  • legless, adjective
  • leglike, adjective

Words Nearby leg

Other definitions for leg. (2 of 2)

leg.
abbreviation

  1. legal.

  2. legate.

  1. legato.

  2. legend.

  3. legislation.

  4. legislative.

  5. legislature.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use leg in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for leg (1 of 2)

leg

/ (lɛɡ) /

noun

    • either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella

    • (as modifier): leg guard; leg rest Related adjective: crural

  2. any similar or analogous structure in animals that is used for locomotion or support

  1. this part of an animal, esp the thigh, used for food: leg of lamb

  2. something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair

  3. a branch, limb, or part of a forked or jointed object

  4. the part of a garment that covers the leg

  5. a section or part of a journey or course

  6. a single stage, lap, length, etc, in a relay race

  7. either one of two races on which a cumulative bet has been placed

  8. either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

  9. nautical

    • the distance travelled without tacking

    • (in yacht racing) the course between any two marks

  10. one of a series of games, matches, or parts of games

  11. cricket

    • the side of the field to the left of a right-handed batsman as he faces the bowler

    • (as modifier): a leg slip; leg stump

  12. give someone a leg up

    • to help someone to climb an obstacle by pushing upwards

    • to help someone to advance

  13. have legs informal to be successful or show the potential to succeed

  14. not have a leg to stand on to have no reasonable or logical basis for an opinion or argument

  15. on its last legs worn out; exhausted

  16. pull someone's leg informal to tease, fool, or make fun of someone

  17. shake a leg informal

    • to hurry up: usually used in the imperative

    • to dance

  18. show a leg informal to get up in the morning

  19. stretch one's legs See stretch (def. 17)

verblegs, legging or legged

  1. (tr) obsolete to propel (a canal boat) through a tunnel by lying on one's back and walking one's feet along the tunnel roof

  2. leg it informal to walk, run, or hurry

Origin of leg

1
C13: from Old Norse leggr, of obscure origin

Derived forms of leg

  • leglike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for leg. (2 of 2)

leg.
abbreviation for

  1. legato

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with leg

leg

In addition to the idiom beginning with leg

  • leg up, a

also see:

  • arm and a leg
  • break a leg
  • on one's last legs
  • pull someone's leg
  • shake a leg
  • stretch one's legs
  • tail between one's legs
  • without a leg to stand on

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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