Limb
/lɪm/
Definitions
2 meaningsAn arm or leg of a person or animal; any of the main branches of a tree.
/lɪm/
An arm or leg of a person or animal.
The athlete had to withdraw from the competition after injuring a limb.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tree with big branches, those are its limbs! And your arms and legs are also limbs. If you break a limb, it means you broke your arm or leg.
👶 For kids: Your arms and legs are called limbs! Trees have limbs too, but they're called branches.
More Examples
The tree's limbs swayed in the wind.
The prosthetics company specializes in designing artificial limbs for patients.
How It's Used
"The doctor examined the patient's injured limb."
"He lost a limb in the accident."
A large branch of a tree.
/lɪm/
The storm snapped several limbs from the old oak tree.
💡 Simply: Like a tree's arms! They're big, strong branches that stick out.
👶 For kids: A branch of a tree. Big branches that stick out!
More Examples
Birds often build nests in the limbs of large trees.
The chimpanzee swung from limb to limb in the jungle canopy.
How It's Used
"The gardener pruned the dead limbs from the oak tree."
"A squirrel scampered along a limb."
Idioms & expressions
out on a limb
In a risky or isolated position; taking a chance.
"The company went out on a limb by investing heavily in a new technology."
From Middle English *lim, from Old English *lim (plural limu) 'limb, member', from Proto-Germanic *limą (plural *limiz), from Proto-Indo-European *leym- 'limb'.
The word 'limb' has been used in English since the Old English period to refer to body parts, and later, to branches of trees.
Memory tip
Think of a tree's branches as the 'limbs' of the tree.
Word Origin
"limb, member"