LIMB

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does limb mean? 

• LIMB (noun)
  The noun LIMB has 6 senses:

1. one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

2. any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree

3. (astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of the sun or the moon or a planet

4. either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip

5. the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles

6. any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm

  Familiarity information: LIMB used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIMB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

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

appendage; extremity; member (an external body part that projects from the body)

Meronyms (parts of "limb"):

stump (the part of a limb or tooth that remains after the rest is removed)

extremity (that part of a limb that is farthest from the torso)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "limb"):

leg (a structure in animals that is similar to a human leg and used for locomotion)

forearm (the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist)

cubitus (the arm from the elbow to the fingertips)

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)

thigh (the part of the leg between the hip and the knee)

crus (the leg from the knee to foot)

leg (a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle)

flipper (the flat broad limb of aquatic animals specialized for swimming)

forelimb (the front limb (or the homologous structure in other animals, such as a flipper or wing))

hind limb; hindlimb (a posterior appendage such as a leg or the homologous structure in other animals)

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

appendicular skeleton (the part of the skeleton that includes the pectoral girdle and the pelvic girdle and the upper and lower limbs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

limb; tree branch

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

branch (a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "limb"):

stick (a small thin branch of a tree)

bough (any of the larger branches of a tree)

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

tree (a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of the sun or the moon or a planet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

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

border; edge (the boundary of a surface)

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the upper limb of the bow

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

part; portion (something less than the whole of a human artifact)

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

bow (a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the limb of the sextant

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

arc (a continuous portion of a circle)

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

sextant (a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant)

octant (a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

arm; branch; limb

Context example:

a branch of the sewer

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

projection (any structure that branches out from a central support)

 Context examples 

A congenital malformation characterized by the complete absence of all limbs.

(Amelia, NCI Thesaurus)

The surgical removal of all or part of a limb or other appendage.

(Amputation, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in both skull and limb development and transcriptional regulation.

(ALX4 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This is the first time that this approach has been used to improve function in the upper limbs of people with severe spinal cord injuries.

(Spinal cord stimulation helps paralyzed people move hands, NIH)

AFM affects the spinal cord and is characterized by the sudden onset of muscle weakness in one or more limbs.

(Enterovirus antibodies detected in acute flaccid myelitis patients, National Institutes of Health)

The team observed these finger-like projections while viewing Europa's limb as the moon passed in front of Jupiter.

(Possible Water Plumes on Jupiter's Moon Europa, NASA)

Surgery to remove part or all of a limb or appendage.

(Amputation, NCI Dictionary)

The part of the skeleton that includes the bones of the upper and lower limbs.

(Appendicular Skeleton, NCI Thesaurus)

A short, sleek, black coat has tan markings on the muzzle, limbs, and chest.

(Black and Tan Coonhound, NCI Thesaurus)

Blood clots can form in, or travel to, the blood vessels in the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and limbs.

(Blood Clots, NIH)