1
a
: one of the projecting paired appendages (such as wings) of an animal body used especially for movement and grasping but sometimes modified into sensory or sexual organs
b
: a leg or arm of a human being
combat soldiers who had lost limbs
2
: a large primary branch of a tree
3
: an active member or agent
a limb of the law
5
: a mischievous child
limbed; limbing; limbs
1
: the outer edge of the apparent disk of a celestial body
2
: the expanded portion of an organ or structure
especially
: the upper spreading portion of a corolla (as of the phlox) whose lower part consists of a tube of fused petals
Synonyms
Examples of limb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Trees and tree limbs were down on streets, houses, sheds and vehicles.
—Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Apr. 2024
Their short, muscled limbs and four-inch claws can break apart rotting logs for grubs and beetles, and dig for worms, boosting decomposition and cycling nutrients in the thin topsoil.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Forge takes her in and the two bond over their respective losses; Forge lost some of his limbs and, with the help of his mutant ability to instantly understand how mechanical devices work, gave himself artificial appendages.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Bullet wounds, blast injuries from explosions and treating patients with missing limbs were the norm at Gaza’s European Hospital as the Detroit orthopedic surgeon spent a week in December on a medical mission with Rahma Worldwide, a humanitarian nonprofit based in Beverly Hills, Michigan.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
The company’s other focus is using the implants to bridge the brain’s connection to disabled limbs, or to even robotic limbs.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
The fluid movement of a ballerina leaping across the stage requires the cerebellum to rapidly process information from all senses while tracking the changing positions of limbs, maintaining balance, and mapping the space through which the body is moving.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Cut back the main limbs as far as needed to solve the problem.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Many people are skeptical enough of Bigfoot's existence, but what about a murderous Bigfoot who tore three men limb from limb?
—Rachel Yang, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2021
Sam tears the puppet guards limb from limb in, and once the mayhem is over the show reveals the bodies and carnage left behind.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Oct. 2023
The lopper is great for greenery, live branches, and limbs up to 1.75 inches thick.
—Jacquelene Amoquandoh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2023
One of the many issues that have flummoxed scientists researching COVID-19 is the nose-to-toes diversity of its symptoms, which extend well beyond the usual range of respiratory infections: from loss of smell to blood clots and stroke to limb pain and discolored COVID toes.
—Katrin Legg, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
What if there is a tree or limb on it?
—Stephen Singer, courant.com, 6 Aug. 2020
The shots are used to help control everything from migraines to limb spasms.
—Jenna Schnuer, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2023
Specific microRNA molecules are key to limb regeneration in salamanders.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2019
Noun
Such wind gusts could snap tree limbs and send debris flying.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Trees and tree limbs were down on streets, houses, sheds and vehicles.
—Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Apr. 2024
Their short, muscled limbs and four-inch claws can break apart rotting logs for grubs and beetles, and dig for worms, boosting decomposition and cycling nutrients in the thin topsoil.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Forge takes her in and the two bond over their respective losses; Forge lost some of his limbs and, with the help of his mutant ability to instantly understand how mechanical devices work, gave himself artificial appendages.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Bullet wounds, blast injuries from explosions and treating patients with missing limbs were the norm at Gaza’s European Hospital as the Detroit orthopedic surgeon spent a week in December on a medical mission with Rahma Worldwide, a humanitarian nonprofit based in Beverly Hills, Michigan.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
The company’s other focus is using the implants to bridge the brain’s connection to disabled limbs, or to even robotic limbs.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
The fluid movement of a ballerina leaping across the stage requires the cerebellum to rapidly process information from all senses while tracking the changing positions of limbs, maintaining balance, and mapping the space through which the body is moving.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Cut back the main limbs as far as needed to solve the problem.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
On its sides and limbs the toad has lighter orange-brown patches.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Many people are skeptical enough of Bigfoot's existence, but what about a murderous Bigfoot who tore three men limb from limb?
—Rachel Yang, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2021
Sam tears the puppet guards limb from limb in, and once the mayhem is over the show reveals the bodies and carnage left behind.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Oct. 2023
The lopper is great for greenery, live branches, and limbs up to 1.75 inches thick.
—Jacquelene Amoquandoh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2023
One of the many issues that have flummoxed scientists researching COVID-19 is the nose-to-toes diversity of its symptoms, which extend well beyond the usual range of respiratory infections: from loss of smell to blood clots and stroke to limb pain and discolored COVID toes.
—Katrin Legg, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
What if there is a tree or limb on it?
—Stephen Singer, courant.com, 6 Aug. 2020
The shots are used to help control everything from migraines to limb spasms.
—Jenna Schnuer, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2023
Specific microRNA molecules are key to limb regeneration in salamanders.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'limb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near limb
Cite this Entry
“Limb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limb. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
limb
2 of 2 verb
: to cut off the limbs of (a felled tree)
Medical Definition
limb
noun1
: one of the projecting paired appendages (as an arm, wing, fin, or parapodium) of an animal body made up of diverse tissues (as epithelium, muscle, and bone) derived from two or more germ layers and concerned especially with movement and grasping but sometimes modified into sensory or sexual organs
especially
: a human leg or arm
2
: a branch or arm of something (as an anatomical part)
the descending limb of Henle's loop
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