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limb
limb1 / lim/ • n. an arm or leg of a person or four-legged animal, or a bird's wing. ∎ a large branch of a tree. ∎ a projecting landform such as a spur of a mountain range, or each of two or more such projections as in a forked peninsula or archipelago. ∎ a projecting section of a building. ∎ a branch of a cross. ∎ each half of an archery bow. PHRASES: life and limb life and all bodily faculties: a reckless disregard for life and limb. out on a limb in or into a dangerous or uncompromising position, where one is not joined or supported by anyone else; vulnerable: she's prepared to go out on a limb and do something different. tear someone limb from limb violently dismember someone.DERIVATIVES: limbed adj. [in combination] long-limbed. limb·less adj. limb2 • n. 1. Astron. the edge of the disk of a celestial object, esp. the sun or moon. 2. Bot. the blade or broad part of a leaf or petal. ∎ the spreading upper part of a tube-shaped flower. 3. the graduated arc of a quadrant or other scientific instrument, used for measuring angles. |
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Cite this article
"limb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "limb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-limb.html "limb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-limb.html |
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limb
limb1 part of the body, spec. a member such as the arm, leg, wing; branch (l. of Satan, etc., imp, mischievous person; in OE. dēofles limu ‘devil's limbs’; whence simply limb XVII) OE. lim n., pl. limu, corr. to ON. limr m.; prob. rel. to OE. lið limb ( = Du. lid; see LAY-FIGURE). Parasitic b prob. arose in obl. forms, and has now disappeared in pronunc.
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T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-limb.html T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-limb.html |
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limb
limb The rim of the visible disk of a celestial body as seen from Earth. A body's leading edge as it moves across the sky is the preceding limb, while the trailing edge is the following limb. The edges of the Moon's visible face are known as the limb regions.
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Cite this article
"limb." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "limb." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-limb.html "limb." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-limb.html |
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limb
limb
1. An appendage of a vertebrate animal, such as the leg or arm of a mammal or the wing of a bird. See also pentadactyl limb. 2. The expanded upper part of a sepal, petal, or leaf. 3. The widened upper section of a gamopetalous corolla. |
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"limb." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "limb." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-limb.html "limb." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-limb.html |
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limb
limb go out on a limb put oneself in a position where one is not joined or supported by anyone else.
life and limb life and all one's bodily faculties. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "limb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "limb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-limb.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "limb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-limb.html |
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limb
limb2
A. †limbo of Hell XV; B. edge or boundary of a surface or instrument XVI. — F. limbe or its source L. limbus (see LIMBO). |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-limb1.html T. F. HOAD. "limb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-limb1.html |
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limb
limb •bedim, brim, crim, dim, glim, grim, Grimm, gym, him, hymn, Jim, Kim, limb, limn, nim, prim, quim, rim, scrim, shim, Sim, skim, slim, swim, Tim, trim, vim, whim
•poem • goyim • cherubim • Hasidim
•seraphim, teraphim
•Elohim • Sikkim • Joachim • prelim
•forelimb • Muslim • Blenheim
•paynim • minim • pseudonym
•homonym • anonym • synonym
•eponym • acronym • antonym
•metonym • Antrim • megrim
•Leitrim • pilgrim • Purim • interim
•passim • maxim • kibbutzim
•Midrashim • literatim
•seriatim, verbatim
•victim
•system • ecosystem • subsystem
•item • Ashkenazim
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Cite this article
"limb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "limb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-limb.html "limb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-limb.html |
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