thigh

noun \ ˈthī \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of thigh

1 a : the proximal segment of the vertebrate hind or lower limb extending from the hip to the knee

b : the segment of the leg immediately distal to the thigh in a bird or in a quadruped in which the true thigh is obscured

c : the femur of an insect

2 : something resembling or covering a thigh

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thighed

play \ˈthīd\ adjective

See thigh defined for English-language learners

See thigh defined for kids

Recent Examples of thigh from the Web

Forward Lunge: Take a large step forward with one leg, bending at the knee until your front thigh is almost parallel to the ground and your back knee is nearly at a 90-degree angle.

— elizabeth carey, Outside Online, "How to Warm Up for a Run," 10 May 2018
LF Yoenis Cespedes was out of the starting lineup for a day to rest his sore right thigh.

— joe kay, courant.com, "Oops! Mets Bat Out Of Turn, Reds Rally For 2-1 Win In 10th," 9 May 2018
Walton dons hers with a leather dress unbuttoned to reveal a sliver of inner thigh.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "Phoebe Philo’s Parting Gift: The Wildest Céline Shoe of Them All," 2 May 2018
According to documents, while in the vehicle, Starkey touched her inner thigh near her genitals without her permission and refused to stop when asked.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Man charged with sexual imposition after police said he touched Tristate-area Lyft driver," 2 May 2018
The forward and reverse lunges will work your quads, glutes, hamstrings and core, and the plyometric hops will burn your inner thighs and further activate the glutes and core, Stokes tells SELF.

— SELF, "Why This Lunge Series from Candace Cameron-Bure’s Trainer is Such a Good Leg Workout," 1 May 2018
At the west end of the scene, nearest Kedzie Avenue, medics lifted a woman with a large bandage on her right thigh from a wheelchair onto a stretcher, then raised her into an ambulance.

— hannah leone, chicagotribune.com, "Man shot to death in SUV near West Side park, 6 others wounded in Chicago shootings," 30 Apr. 2018
The bullet came from the left, punched through his right inner thigh, and smashed clean through his femur, leaving a fist-sized exit wound.

— tristan mcconnell, GQ, "The Bloody Toll of Congo's Elephant Wars," 16 Apr. 2018
Bring right knee forward to kneel, and then step left foot forward while bringing left hand to inner thigh.

— Health.com, "Tracy Anderson's 5 Moves to Sculpt a Lean, Sexy Stomach," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thigh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of thigh

Middle English, from Old English thēoh; akin to Old High German dioh thigh, Lithuanian taukai, plural, fat

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

THIGH Defined for English Language Learners

thigh

noun

Definition of thigh for English Language Learners

: the part of your leg that is above the knee
: the side part of the leg of a bird

THIGH Defined for Kids

thigh

noun \ ˈthī \

Definition of thigh for Students

: the part of a leg between the hip and the knee

Medical Dictionary

thigh

noun \ ˈthī \

medical Definition of thigh

1 : the proximal segment of the vertebrate hind or lower limb extending from the hip to the knee and supported by a single large bone — compare femur 1

2 : the segment of the leg immediately distal to the thigh in a bird or in a quadruped in which the true thigh is obscured

3 : the femur of an insect