Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having long legs: Used to describe a person, animal, or sometimes an object that has notably long legs in proportion to its body.
   • (Of plants) having tall, spindly stems: Used to describe a plant that has grown excessively tall and thin, often with weak stems, typically due to insufficient light.

Usage Examples

• Describing a person or animal:
  • The leggy model walked gracefully down the runway.
  • The foal was tall and leggy for its age.
• Describing a plant:
  • The seedlings became leggy because they were kept in a dark room.
  • To prevent a leggy appearance, ensure your houseplants get enough sunlight.

Advanced Usage

• "Leggy" can sometimes carry a slightly informal or descriptive nuance when referring to people, often implying attractiveness associated with long legs.
  • She was described as a tall, leggy blonde in the article.
• In horticulture, it is a technical term describing poor growth form.
  • Leggy growth is a common problem for indoor gardeners during winter.

Variants and Related Words

• Long-legged (adj): A more straightforward synonym for having long legs.
  • The long-legged heron waded in the shallow water.
• Spindly (adj): Thin and weak, often used for plants or objects; closely related to the second meaning of "leggy."
  • The plant produced spindly stems that couldn't support the flowers.

Synonyms

• Long-limbed: Having long legs and arms.
• Spindly (for plants): Tall, thin, and frail.

Antonyms

• Short-legged: Having short legs.
• Stocky: Having a solid, sturdy build with relatively short limbs.
• Bushy (for plants): Growing thickly with many leaves and branches close together.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "All legs": An informal idiom similar to "leggy," describing someone, often a young person, who is awkwardly tall or has long limbs.
  • At thirteen, he was all legs and elbows.
• "Grow leggy": A common phrase used specifically for plants.
  • If you don't pinch back the sprouts, they will grow leggy.

Adjective

1. having long legs
2. (of plants) having tall spindly stems