limb

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Related to limb: phantom limb

limb

large branch of a tree; an arm, leg, or wing

Not to be confused with:

limn – to draw; portray in words; describe

limb¹

(lĭm)

1. One of the larger branches of a tree.

2. One of the jointed appendages of an animal, such as an arm, leg, wing, or flipper, used for locomotion or grasping.

3. An extension or a projecting part, as of a building or mountain range.

a. An extension or part distinguished from the main body or group: the conservative limb of the party.

b. A member or representative of a group: was arrested by a burly limb of the law.

5. Archaic An impish child.

tr.v. limbed, limb·ing, limbs

To remove the branches from.

Idiom:

(out) on a limb Informal

In a difficult, awkward, or vulnerable position.

[Alteration (probably influenced by limb) of Middle English lim, from Old English.]

limb²

(lĭm)

1. Astronomy The circumferential edge of the apparent disk of a celestial body.

2. Mathematics The edge of a graduated arc or circle used in an instrument to measure angles.

3. Botany The expanded tip of a plant organ, such as a petal or corolla lobe.

[Middle English limbe, graduated edge of an astronomical instrument, from Old French, from Latin limbus, border.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

limb

(lɪm)

1. (Anatomy) an arm or leg, or the analogous part on an animal, such as a wing

2. (Botany) 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. chiefly Brit a mischievous child (esp in limb of Satan or limb of the devil)

6. out on a limb

a. in a precarious or questionable position

b. Brit isolated, esp because of unpopular opinions

(tr) a rare word for dismember

[Old English lim; related to Old Norse limr]

ˈlimbless adj

limb

(lɪm)

1. (Astronomy) the edge of the apparent disc of the sun, a moon, or a planet

2. (Surveying) a graduated arc attached to instruments, such as the sextant, used for measuring angles

3. (Botany) botany

a. the expanded upper part of a bell-shaped corolla

b. the expanded part of a leaf, petal, or sepal

4. (Archery) either of the two halves of a bow

5. (Geological Science) Also called: fold limb either of the sides of a geological fold

[C15: from Latin limbus edge]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

limb¹

(lɪm)
n.

1. one of the paired bodily appendages of animals, used esp. for moving or grasping; a leg, arm, or wing.

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.

v.t.

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

6. to dismember.

Idioms:

out on a limb, in a risky or vulnerable situation.

[before 900; Middle English, Old English lim]

limb′less, adj.

limb²

(lɪm)

n.

the graduated edge of a quadrant or similar instrument.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin limbus; see limbus, limbo¹]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	limb - one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper hind limb, hindlimb - a posterior appendage such as a leg or the homologous structure in other animals forelimb - the front limb (or the homologous structure in other animals, such as a flipper or wing) flipper - the flat broad limb of aquatic animals specialized for swimming appendage, extremity, member - an external body part that projects from the body; "it is important to keep the extremities warm" stump - the part of a limb or tooth that remains after the rest is removed leg - a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle crus - the leg from the knee to foot leg - a structure in animals that is similar to a human leg and used for locomotion thigh - the part of the leg between the hip and the knee arm - a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb cubitus - the arm from the elbow to the fingertips forearm - the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist extremity - that part of a limb that is farthest from the torso appendicular skeleton - the part of the skeleton that includes the pectoral girdle and the pelvic girdle and the upper and lower limbs
	2.	limb - any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree tree branch tree - a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms branch - a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant stick - a small thin branch of a tree bough - any of the larger branches of a tree
	3.	limb - (astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of the sun or the moon or a planet astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole edge, border - the boundary of a surface
	4.	limb - either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip; "the upper limb of the bow" bow - a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow part, portion - something less than the whole of a human artifact; "the rear part of the house"; "glue the two parts together"
	5.	limb - the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles; "the limb of the sextant" octant - a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration sextant - a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant arc - a continuous portion of a circle
	6.	limb - any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer" arm, branch projection - any structure that branches out from a central support

limb

noun

1. part, member, arm, leg, wing, extension, extremity, appendage She stretched out her cramped limbs.

2. branch, spur, projection, offshoot, bough the limb of an enormous leafy tree

out on a limb independently, separately, in a dangerous position, sticking your neck out (informal) They went out on a limb, voting for a controversial energy bill.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

طَرَف: ذِراع او رِجْلغُصْن

končetinavětev

grenlem

Ast Körperglied

miembro rama extremidad

membre branche limbe

faágvastag faág

greinlimur

membro arto grosso ramo ramo trovarsi in difficolt...

galūnėvienišas ir atstumtas

liels zarsloceklis

конечность член

končatina

dalkol ya da bacak

枝干树枝肢

limb

[lɪm] N (Anat) → miembro m, extremidad f; [of tree] → rama f
to lose a limb → perder uno de los miembros or una de las extremidades
to be/go out on a limb (in danger) → estar/quedar en peligro; (= be isolated) → estar/quedarse aislado; (= take risk) → correr el riesgo
to tear sb limb from limb → despedazar a algn
see also life A1

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

limb

[ˈlɪm] n

[person] → membre m

[tree] → branche f
to go out on a limb (= take a risk) → risquer de s'isoler
to be out on a limb → être isolé(e)

limber up

[ˌlɪmbə^rˈʌp] vi → se dégourdir, se mettre en train

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

limb

(Anat) → Glied nt; limbs pl → Glieder pl, → Gliedmaßen pl; the lower limbs → die unteren Gliedmaßen; to rest one’s tired limbs → seine müden Glieder or Knochen (inf) → ausruhen; to tear somebody limb from limb → jdn in Stücke reißen; to risk life and limb → Leib und Leben riskieren or aufs Spiel setzen

(of tree) → Ast m; to be out on a limb (fig) → exponiert sein; to go out on a limb (fig) → sich exponieren; John’s ideas put him out on a limb → John steht mit seinen Ideen allein auf weiter Flur; he had left himself out on a limb → er hatte sich in eine prekäre Lage gebracht

(of cross) → Balken m; (of organization etc) → Glied nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

limb

[lɪm] n (Anat) → arto; (of tree) → (grosso) ramo
a man with strong limbs → un uomo dalle membra robuste
to be out on a limb (fig) → trovarsi in difficoltà
to go out on a limb (fig) → esporsi
to tear limb from limb → sbranare, fare a pezzettini

limb

(lim) noun

1. an arm or leg.

2. a branch.

out on a limb

on one's own and in a dangerous or disadvantageous position.

limb

1. n. extremidad, miembro del cuerpo;

2. porción terminal o distal de una estructura;

___ amputation → amputación de una ___;

___ rigidity → rigidez de la ___ o del miembro;

___ pain → dolor en las extremidades.

limb

n extremidad f (form), miembro; residual — (form) muñón m

References in classic literature ?

And from the safety of his overhanging limb the ape-child sent back the fearsome answer of his kind.

View in context

As we ran out the limb, Broken-Tooth, facing us, would begin teetering.

View in context

Occasionally we would strike our heads against some projecting limb of a tree; and while imprudently engaged in rubbing the injured part, would fall sprawling amongst filthy fragments, cutting and bruising ourselves, whilst the unpitying waters flowed over our prostrate bodies.

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Then, when he had worked Taug to such a pitch of foaming rage that the great bull fairly danced upon the bending limb beneath him, Tarzan's hand shot suddenly outward, a widening noose dropped swiftly through the air, there was a quick jerk as it settled about Taug, falling to his knees, a jerk that tightened it securely about the hairy legs of the anthropoid.

View in context

She swung from limb to limb, or she raced through the mighty branches, surefooted, lithe, and fearless.

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It was of about the same diameter as the entrance at the foot of the tree, and opened directly upon a large flat limb, the well worn surface of which testified to its long continued use as an avenue for some creature to and from this remarkable shaft.

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"One, two, tree, four, fibe - I done pass fibe big limb, massa, pon dis side."

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The great cat lay crouched upon a thick limb, hidden from the ape's view by dense foliage, waiting patiently until the anthropoid should come within range of his spring.

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It's hid in mighty particular places, Huck -- sometimes on islands, sometimes in rot- ten chests under the end of a limb of an old dead tree, just where the shadow falls at midnight; but mostly under the floor in ha'nted houses."

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The bones of a limb might be shortened and widened to any extent, and become gradually enveloped in thick membrane, so as to serve as a fin; or a webbed foot might have all its bones, or certain bones, lengthened to any extent, and the membrane connecting them increased to any extent, so as to serve as a wing: yet in all this great amount of modification there will be no tendency to alter the framework of bones or the relative connexion of the several parts.

View in context

ONE day an Opossum who had gone to sleep hanging from the highest branch of a tree by the tail, awoke and saw a large Snake wound about the limb, between him and the trunk of the tree.

View in context

"Our dear companion Will Stutely hath been taken by that vile Sheriff's men, therefore doth it behoove us to take bow and brand in hand to bring him off again; for I wot that we ought to risk life and limb for him, as he hath risked life and limb for us.

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