limb
/lim/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A major projecting part of an animal body used for movement or manipulation: This refers to the paired appendages of vertebrates, such as arms, legs, wings, or flippers.
- A large branch of a tree: This refers to a primary division extending from the trunk or from another large branch.
- A projecting part or extension: This can refer to any part that extends from a central structure, resembling or analogous to an arm or branch.
- The edge of a celestial body: In astronomy, this is the outer circumference or apparent edge of the sun, moon, or a planet.
- A graduated arc on a measuring instrument: This is the part of an instrument, like a sextant, marked with degrees for measuring angles.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Animal appendage):
- The athlete lost a limb in the accident.
- Birds use their forelimbs as wings for flight.
- Noun (Tree branch):
- He climbed out onto a sturdy limb of the oak tree.
- The storm broke several large limbs from the pine.
- Noun (Projecting part):
- The robot's mechanical limb was capable of precise movements.
- The northern limb of the bay is less developed.
- Noun (Astronomy):
- Scientists observed sunspots near the solar limb.
- Noun (Instrument part):
- The navigator adjusted the limb of the sextant.
Advanced Usage
- "To go out on a limb": To take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position by expressing an opinion or taking action.
- I'm going out on a limb to predict they will win the championship.
- "To tear limb from limb": To violently dismember or destroy.
- The old myth said the monster would tear its victims limb from limb.
Variants and Related Words
- Limbless (adj): Having no limbs.
- Snakes are limbless reptiles.
- Limbed (adj): Having limbs (often used in combination).
- A long-limbed dancer.
- Delimb (v): To remove the limbs from (e.g., a tree).
- They had to delimb the fallen tree before moving it.
Synonyms
- Appendage: A projecting part of an animal or plant body.
- Extremity: The outermost part or section, such as a hand or foot (a part of a limb).
- Bough: A main branch of a tree (similar to, but often larger than, a limb).
- Branch: A division of a main stem.
Related Phrases
- Life and limb: One's life and physical well-being.
- Firefighters risk life and limb to save others.
- Sound in wind and limb: In good physical health.
- Despite his age, he is sound in wind and limb.
Noun
- 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
- the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles
- the limb of the sextant
- either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip
- the upper limb of the bow
- (astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of the sun or the moon or a planet
- any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree
- one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper