limb

¹ American  

[lim] / lɪm /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut the limbs from (a felled tree).

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.

limb ² American  

[lim] / lɪm /

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.

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limb ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) a rare word for dismember

limb ² British  

/ 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

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limb Scientific  

/ lĭm /

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.

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limb More Idioms  

1. see out on a limb; risk life and limb.

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Related Words

See branch.

Other Word Forms

• limbless adjective

Etymology

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. )

Example Sentences

Publishing a forecast that differs significantly from competitors’ amounts to throwing your weight behind a strong trading recommendation, so many economists hesitate to go out on a limb.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

She decided to take a step back from performing arts institutions and sought advice from friends who also had a limb difference and worked in the industry.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

"Look at the length of the skull, the length of the neck, and the length of the hind limb -- you're in heron territory."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Washington: I’m not the only one here jumping on a limb — she’s gonna smoke it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

“A tree limb went through our kitchen window during the storm, but that was it. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

Related Words

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