leg

¹leg

noun \ˈleg also ˈlāg\

Definition of LEG

1

: a limb of an animal used especially for supporting the body and for walking: as

a (1) : one of the paired vertebrate limbs that in bipeds extend from the top of the thigh to the foot (2) : the part of such a limb between the knee and foot

b : the back half of a hindquarter of a meat animal

c : one of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an arthropod used in walking and crawling

2

a : a pole or bar serving as a support or prop <the legs of a tripod>

b : a branch of a forked or jointed object <the legs of a compass>

3

a : the part of an article of clothing that covers the leg

b : the part of the upper (as of a boot) that extends above the ankle

4

: obeisance, bow —used chiefly in the phrase to make a leg

5

: a side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse; also : a side of an isosceles triangle that is not the base

6

a : the course and distance sailed by a boat on a single tack

b : a portion of a trip : stage

c : one section of a relay race

d : one of several events or games necessary to be won to decide a competition <won the first two legs of horse racing's Triple Crown>

7

: a branch or part of an object or system

8

plural : long-term appeal or interest <a news story with legs>

— leg·less \-ləs\ adjective

— a leg to stand on

: support; especially : a basis for one's position in a controversy

— on one's last legs

: at or near the end of one's resources : on the verge of failure, exhaustion, or ruin

Examples of LEG

1. He sat on a chair with his legs crossed.
2. He leaned against the wall with his legs spread so the police could search him.
3. She broke her leg in a skiing accident.
4. His legs gave way under him and he fell over.
5. We had chicken legs for dinner.
6. Would you like some more leg of lamb?
7. the legs of a table
8. a chair with a broken leg

Origin of LEG

Middle English, from Old Norse leggr

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LEG

Synonyms

pin

Related Words

member; foreleg, forelimb; calf, drumstick, ham, shank, shin, thigh

²leg

intransitive verb

leggedleg·ging

Definition of LEG

: to use the legs in walking; especially : run

First Known Use of LEG

1601

Rhymes with LEG

beg, dreg, egg, gleg, keg, peg, reg, skeg, yegg

³leg

abbreviation

Definition of LEG

1

legal

2

legato

3

legislative; legislature

leg

noun \ˈleg, ˈlāg\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LEG

: a limb of an animal used especially for supporting the body and for walking: as a : either of the two lower human limbs that extend from the top of the thigh to the foot and especially the part between the knee and the ankle b : any of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an arthropod used in walking and crawling

leg

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In a biped, the lower limb, jointed at the knee, supporting the body and used for walking and running. Its bones are the femur (thighbone), the longest bone in the human body; patella (kneecap); tibia (shin); and fibula. The biceps muscle of the thigh bends the leg; the quadriceps straightens it.