Limb: meaning, definitions and examples

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limb

[lɪm ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

body part

An arm or leg of a person or four-legged animal, or a bird's wing.

Synonyms

arm, leg, wing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
limb	General term used to refer to an arm, leg, or wing of a person, animal, or tree. He broke a limb while climbing the tree. Birds have wings as their limbs.
arm	Specifically refers to the upper limb of a human body or the analogous limb in certain animals. She lifted her arm to wave at her friend. The octopus wrapped its arm around the shell.
leg	Specifically refers to the lower limb of a human body or the analogous limb in certain animals. He injured his leg while playing soccer. A spider has eight legs.
wing	Refers to the limb used by birds, insects, and bats for flying. The eagle spread its wings and took flight. Butterflies have colorful wings.

Examples of usage

He suffered severe injuries to his limbs in the accident.
The bird flapped its wings, stretching out its limbs.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

branch of a tree

A large branch of a tree.

Synonyms

bough, branch.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
limb	Refers to arms and legs when talking about the body, or a large branch of a tree. She injured her lower limb in the accident The cat was stuck on a high limb of the tree
branch	Refers to any part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough. Also used metaphorically to refer to a division or subdivision of something. He broke a branch from the tree The company is opening a new branch in the city
bough	Refers specifically to a large, main branch of a tree, often evocative and poetic in use. The bird built its nest on a sturdy bough The children liked to swing from the old oak tree's bough

Word

Description / Examples

limb

Refers to arms and legs when talking about the body, or a large branch of a tree.

She injured her lower limb in the accident
The cat was stuck on a high limb of the tree

branch

Refers to any part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough. Also used metaphorically to refer to a division or subdivision of something.

He broke a branch from the tree
The company is opening a new branch in the city

bough

Refers specifically to a large, main branch of a tree, often evocative and poetic in use.

The bird built its nest on a sturdy bough
The children liked to swing from the old oak tree's bough

Examples of usage

The limb of the oak tree stretched out over the garden.
The storm caused several limbs to fall from the tree.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

mechanical device

A projecting part of a structure, machine, or natural feature.

Synonyms

appendage, extension.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
limb	Typically used in everyday language to refer to arms, legs, or wings of humans and animals. The athlete broke his limb during the football match. The bird's injured limb prevented it from flying.
appendage	Used in more formal or scientific contexts to describe a part of an organism that is joined to the main body. Can refer to limbs but also includes other protrusions. The insect's antennae are sensitive appendages that help it navigate. Some marine animals have specialized appendages for movement.
extension	Used to describe something that is added on to something else, often to enlarge or prolong it. In anatomy, it can refer to parts that extend from the body but more commonly refers to artificial or non-organic additions. The worker used an extension to reach the high shelf. Hair extensions can help change one's appearance without waiting for hair to grow.

Word

Description / Examples

limb

Typically used in everyday language to refer to arms, legs, or wings of humans and animals.

The athlete broke his limb during the football match.
The bird's injured limb prevented it from flying.

appendage

Used in more formal or scientific contexts to describe a part of an organism that is joined to the main body. Can refer to limbs but also includes other protrusions.

The insect's antennae are sensitive appendages that help it navigate.
Some marine animals have specialized appendages for movement.

extension

Used to describe something that is added on to something else, often to enlarge or prolong it. In anatomy, it can refer to parts that extend from the body but more commonly refers to artificial or non-organic additions.

The worker used an extension to reach the high shelf.
Hair extensions can help change one's appearance without waiting for hair to grow.

Examples of usage

The crane had a long metal limb that extended to reach high places.
The robot's limb moved with precision and agility.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'limb' comes from the Old English word 'limb', which means 'member or part of the body'.
It is related to the Old Norse word 'lim', which also means 'bone' or 'member'.
Interestingly, 'limb' has also been used historically to refer to branches of trees, showing its link to growth and extension.

Anatomy

Humans typically have four limbs: two arms and two legs, which contribute to our ability to walk, climb, and manipulate objects.
Each limb contains bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels working together to create movement.
The human hand, a highly flexible limb, has 27 bones, allowing for an incredible range of motion and dexterity.

Cultural Significance

In many cultures, the idea of 'limb' is often associated with strength and stability, representing a person's ability to stand tall and take action.
The phrase 'limbs' of a tree can symbolize family or community connections, as each branch represents an individual contributing to the whole.
Art and literature often depict characters' limbs to convey emotions — open arms can signify welcome, while crossed arms might indicate defensiveness.

Psychology

Limbic system, pronounced similarly to limb, is an important part of the brain involved in our emotions and memory.
Body language associated with limbs plays a crucial role in human communication, often revealing feelings without a word spoken.
Motor skills development in children focuses on limb coordination, which is essential for activities like writing and sports.

Translations

Translations of the word "limb" in other languages:

🇵🇹 membro

🇮🇳 अंग

🇩🇪 Glied

🇮🇩 anggota tubuh

🇺🇦 кінцівка

🇵🇱 kończyna

🇯🇵 手足

🇫🇷 membre

🇪🇸 miembro

🇹🇷 uzuv

🇰🇷 사지

🇸🇦 طرف

🇨🇿 končetina

🇸🇰 končatina

🇨🇳 肢体

🇸🇮 okončina

🇮🇸 útlimur

🇰🇿 мүше

🇬🇪 ტანი

🇦🇿 bədən üzvü

🇲🇽 miembro

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,653 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
5650 hierarchy
5651 lighter
5652 textile
5653 limb
5654 stolen
5655 stake
5656 invented
...