long-limbed
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having long limbs: "long-limbed" describes a person or animal that has arms and legs that are notably extended in length, often implying a tall or slender physique.
Usage Examples
- (The animal's arms and legs are notably long.)
- (The person has unusually long arms and legs for her age.)
Advanced Usage
- "long-limbed and graceful": a common collocation used to describe someone with elegant, extended limbs.
- The long-limbed and graceful dancer moved across the stage with ease. (The dancer's long limbs contributed to her elegance.)
- "long-limbed predator": used to describe animals like spiders or big cats that rely on extended limbs for hunting.
- The long-limbed spider waited patiently for its prey. (The spider's long legs helped it capture food.)
Variants and Related Words
- Long-limbedness (noun): the quality or state of having long limbs.
- His long-limbedness made him an excellent swimmer. (His physical attribute of having long arms and legs.)
- Limb (noun): an arm, leg, or wing of a person or animal.
- The tree limb broke under the weight of the snow. (A branch, but the word "limb" also applies to body parts.)
- Long-legged (adj): specifically describing long legs, often used interchangeably with "long-limbed" for legs only.
- The long-legged bird waded through the shallow water. (The bird had notably long legs.)
Synonyms
- Lanky: tall, thin, and having long limbs, often with a slightly awkward appearance.
- Gangling: awkwardly tall and slender, with long, loose limbs.
- Stork-like: resembling the long legs of a stork (often used humorously).
Related Idioms
- "Long-limbed like a spider": a simile comparing someone's long arms and legs to those of a spider.
- He climbed the rope, long-limbed like a spider, reaching the top in seconds. (His limbs were long and agile, similar to a spider's.)
- "Born with long limbs": an idiomatic expression meaning naturally tall or athletic.
- She was born with long limbs, perfect for basketball. (She naturally has long arms and legs.)