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
Noun (1)
we hung the swing from the highest limb of the tree that we could reach
Recent Examples on the Web
James Powel, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
Homes were in roadways and on top of other homes, as were trees, tree limbs and smashed vehicles.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 8 May 2024
Low water temperatures — starting at about 50 to 60 degrees — can affect your ability to breathe and move your limbs, weather service meteorologist Chelsea Peters told The Sacramento Bee in 2023.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
The Kansas City area will have much quieter weather on Tuesday after violent overnight storms swept through the metro, downing tree limbs and power lines in parts of the metro, prompting tornado sirens to sound in the Northland and parts of Jackson County.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2024
An instrument on Aura, the microwave limb sounder, gives us our best line of sight into this seething chemical drama, said Ross J. Salawitch, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland.
—Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 3 May 2024
In addition to roost limb activity, it’s even associated with when a turkey flies down from a high ridge, across a creek, etc.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024
As the Weather Network explains: The whole ordeal only lasted a short moment, but from the video, viewers can see the aftermath of tree limbs thrown about everywhere, dirt caking the train, and even one of the side windows shattered.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 30 Apr. 2024
The city is experiencing power outages, gas leaks, and utility poles and tree limbs down in roadways, the fire chief said.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 27 Apr. 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
The liquid is used in multiple industries, including paint removal and manufacturing, and the CDC says exposure can cause drowsiness, dizziness, numbness and tingling limbs, and nausea.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
Homes were in roadways and on top of other homes, as were trees, tree limbs and smashed vehicles.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 8 May 2024
Low water temperatures — starting at about 50 to 60 degrees — can affect your ability to breathe and move your limbs, weather service meteorologist Chelsea Peters told The Sacramento Bee in 2023.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
The Kansas City area will have much quieter weather on Tuesday after violent overnight storms swept through the metro, downing tree limbs and power lines in parts of the metro, prompting tornado sirens to sound in the Northland and parts of Jackson County.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2024
An instrument on Aura, the microwave limb sounder, gives us our best line of sight into this seething chemical drama, said Ross J. Salawitch, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland.
—Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 3 May 2024
In addition to roost limb activity, it’s even associated with when a turkey flies down from a high ridge, across a creek, etc.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024
As the Weather Network explains: The whole ordeal only lasted a short moment, but from the video, viewers can see the aftermath of tree limbs thrown about everywhere, dirt caking the train, and even one of the side windows shattered.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 30 Apr. 2024
The city is experiencing power outages, gas leaks, and utility poles and tree limbs down in roadways, the fire chief said.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 27 Apr. 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 14 May. 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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