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
Recent Examples on the Web
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024
Each limb comes attached with a three finger gripper that grabs onto the rocks and uses them as anchor points.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2024
However, the strong gusty winds will remain around for a awhile as Kansas City remained under a wind advisory until 7 p.m.
The weather service warned that the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, and tree limbs and power lines could be downed.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
In the context of the world of science, a little coughing and a little limb shaking weren’t considered much of a big deal.
—Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
The female statues, many cracked or missing limbs, come to life in the film and move around, wailing with grief and anger.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The organization also helped facilitate the referral of a patient with lower limb injuries to a field hospital in Rafah.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
But if villagers can identify where a sculpture or object once stood, Cambodia can conduct an excavation to look for physical proof of looting — a fragment or plinth or limb left behind like a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Such wind gusts could snap tree limbs and send debris flying.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 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
There are about a thousand children who have lost at least one limb.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024
Each limb comes attached with a three finger gripper that grabs onto the rocks and uses them as anchor points.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2024
However, the strong gusty winds will remain around for a awhile as Kansas City remained under a wind advisory until 7 p.m.
The weather service warned that the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, and tree limbs and power lines could be downed.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
In the context of the world of science, a little coughing and a little limb shaking weren’t considered much of a big deal.
—Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
The female statues, many cracked or missing limbs, come to life in the film and move around, wailing with grief and anger.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The organization also helped facilitate the referral of a patient with lower limb injuries to a field hospital in Rafah.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
But if villagers can identify where a sculpture or object once stood, Cambodia can conduct an excavation to look for physical proof of looting — a fragment or plinth or limb left behind like a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Such wind gusts could snap tree limbs and send debris flying.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 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 29 Apr. 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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