-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
: a limb (such as an arm, wing, fin, or leg) that is situated anteriorly
the forelimb of a bat
Examples of forelimb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Griffins are depicted with proportionate limbs with strong claws; Protoceratops had shorter forelimbs than hindlimbs and blunt claws.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 June 2024
And the unusual forelimbs, or wing bones, of Imparavis were another remarkable feature of its anatomy.
—Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
The motion of the forelimbs and tail was controlled by a mechanism controlled by custom software running on a mobile phone.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024
For Megalosaurus itself, Benson recognized parts of the jaw, skull, forelimbs, hindlimbs, ribs and vertebrate that could confidently be deemed Megalosaurus, providing at least a rough look at the dinosaur’s skeleton.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for forelimb
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forelimb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1796, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near forelimb
Cite this Entry
“Forelimb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forelimb. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
forelimb
noun
fore·limb
-ˌlim
: an arm, fin, wing, or leg that is one of a front pair of limbs or corresponds to one
Medical Definition
forelimb
noun
fore·limb
-ˌlim
: a limb (as an arm, fin, wing, or leg) that is situated anteriorly
More from Merriam-Webster on forelimb
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for forelimb
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forelimb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share