leg

1 of 3

noun

ˈleg 

 also  ˈlāg

1

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

legs plural : long-term appeal or interest

a news story with legs

legless

ˈleg-ləs 

 also  ˈlāg-

adjective

a legless chair

legless lizards

leglike adjective

or leg-like

ˈleg-ˌlīk 

 also  ˈlāg-

leglike appendages

leg

2 of 3

verb

legged; legging

intransitive verb

: to use the legs in walking

especially : run

leg

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

legal

2

legato

3

legislative; legislature

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Noun

• pin

Verb

• ambulate
• foot (it)
• hoof (it)
• pad
• step
• traipse
• tread
• walk

Examples of leg in a Sentence

Noun

He sat on a chair with his legs crossed.

He leaned against the wall with his legs spread so the police could search him.

She broke her leg in a skiing accident.

His legs gave way under him and he fell over.

We had chicken legs for dinner.

Would you like some more leg of lamb?

the legs of a table

a chair with a broken leg

Verb

the car was in the shop so we had to leg it to work for a couple of days

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Malinowski is also missing his lower left leg, similarly to the movie character. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024

Marathon swimming and sailing will take place just offshore, as will the opening leg of the triathlon. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024

Verb

The dark ride uses a vehicle mechanism in which riders legs dangle below them in order to simulate flying. —Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

Plus, in a particularly clever design move, the pants legs zip together when they’re removed to keep you from losing track of them. —Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old Norse leggr

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1587, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing leg

• an arm and a leg
• arm and a leg
• break a leg
• cost an arm and a leg
• get one's leg over
• give someone a leg up
• have a leg up
• jake leg
• leg-of-mutton
• leg-o'-mutton
• leg out
• leg-pull
• leg up
• leg warmer
• milk leg
• not have a leg to stand on
• peg leg
• pull one's leg
• pull someone's leg
• shake a leg
• talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey

Kids Definition

leg

1 of 2 noun

ˈleg 

1

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

also : the part of a leg of a vertebrate animal between the knee and the foot

2

: something resembling an animal leg in shape or use

legs of a table

3

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

4

: a side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse

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

5

a

: a portion of a trip : stage

b

: one section of a relay race

leg

2 of 2 verb

legged; legging

: to use the legs in walking or especially in running

Medical Definition

leg

noun

ˈleg, ˈlāg 

: 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

Legal Definition

leg

abbreviation

1

legal

2

legislative, legislature