ELBOW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does elbow mean? 

• ELBOW (noun)
  The noun ELBOW has 5 senses:

1. hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

2. a sharp bend in a road or river

3. a length of pipe with a sharp bend in it

4. the part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint

5. the joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow

  Familiarity information: ELBOW used as a noun is common.

• ELBOW (verb)
  The verb ELBOW has 2 senses:

1. push one's way with the elbows

2. shove one's elbow into another person's ribs

  Familiarity information: ELBOW used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELBOW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

articulatio cubiti; cubital joint; cubitus; elbow; elbow joint; human elbow

Hypernyms ("elbow" is a kind of...):

ginglymoid joint; ginglymus; hinge joint (a freely moving joint in which the bones are so articulated as to allow extensive movement in one plane)

Meronyms (parts of "elbow"):

musculus articularis cubiti (a small branch of the triceps that inserts into the capsule of the elbow joint)

crazy bone; funny bone (a point on the elbow where the ulnar nerve passes near the surface; a sharp tingling sensation results when the nerve is knocked against the bone)

Holonyms ("elbow" is a part of...):

arm (a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb)

Derivation:

elbow (shove one's elbow into another person's ribs)

elbow (push one's way with the elbows)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sharp bend in a road or river

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("elbow" is a kind of...):

bend; curve (curved segment (of a road or river or railroad track etc.))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A length of pipe with a sharp bend in it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("elbow" is a kind of...):

pipage; pipe; piping (a long tube made of metal or plastic that is used to carry water or oil or gas etc.)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

his coat had patches over the elbows

Hypernyms ("elbow" is a kind of...):

cloth covering (a covering made of cloth)

Holonyms ("elbow" is a part of...):

arm; sleeve (the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("elbow" is a kind of...):

articulatio; articulation; joint ((anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion))

Holonyms ("elbow" is a part of...):

foreleg (the forelimb of a quadruped)

• ELBOW (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they elbow    ... he / she / it elbows   
Past simple: elbowed   
Past participle: elbowed   
-ing form: elbowing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Push one's way with the elbows

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "elbow" is one way to...):

jostle; shove (come into rough contact with while moving)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

elbow (hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped)

elbowing (jostling with the elbows)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shove one's elbow into another person's ribs

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "elbow" is one way to...):

nudge; poke at; prod (to push against gently)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

elbow (hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped)

 Context examples 

It usually affects the shoulder, knee, elbow, hip, or foot.

(Bursitis, NCI Dictionary)

A muscle that originates from the lower two-thirds of the anterior surface of the humerus that flexes the elbow.

(Brachialis, NCI Thesaurus)

Its action involves the rotation of the arm and the flexing of the elbow.

(Biceps, NCI Thesaurus)

Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.

(Arthritis, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

It most often affects the hips, shoulders, and elbows.

(Bursitis, NCI Thesaurus)

It usually occurs at the knee or elbow.

(Bursitis, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Many things can make your elbow hurt.

(Elbow Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder.

(Arm Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

The portion of the upper extremity between the shoulder and the elbow.

(Arm, NCI Thesaurus)

I had a table placed upon the same at which her majesty ate, just at her left elbow, and a chair to sit on.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)