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elbow Definition

el·bow (elbō′)

noun

    1. the joint between the upper and lower arm; esp., the outer part of the angle made by a bent arm
    2. the joint corresponding to this in the forelimb of quadrupeds
  1. the part of a sleeve covering the elbow
  2. anything bent like an elbow, as a fitting for joining plumbing pipes at a 45° or 90° angle

Etymology: ME elbowe < OE elboga < PGmc *alino-boga (> Ger ellenbogen): see ell & bow

transitive verb

  1. to shove or jostle with or as with elbows
  2. to push (one's way) with the elbows or rudely

intransitive verb

  1. to make one's way by shoving or jostling
  2. to form an angle

elbow Idioms

at someone's elbow

very close to someone; easy to reach

out at (the) elbows

shabby; poverty-stricken

up to the elbows

Informal deeply engaged (in work, etc.)

elbow Synonyms

elbow

n.

rub elbows with*

mingle with, hobnob with, join; see associate 1.

up to the elbows (in)*

engaged, employed, working at; see busy 1.

elbow Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dislocate: A lapse of concentration on the problem at hand ended with an awkward backward fall that dislocated an elbow.
  • tuck: With your elbow tucked into your side, turn your palm up.
  • straighten: Elbow Extension Exercise Elbow Extension Exercise With upper arm supported on wedge fully straighten elbow.
  • rub: What tends to make me pessimistic is the ignorance of the people I rub elbows with on a day to day basis.
  • flex: The flexed elbow by the patriarchal our vision of.
  • bend: Bend the elbow at a 90 degree angle pointing behind you with the upper arm not quite parallel to the floor.

Preposition: on

  • desk: I wouldn't expect you to. ' Maurice rested his elbow on the desk and leaned his chin on his hand.

Adjective modifier

  • left: I split my left elbow which caused a great deal of pain.
  • sharp: It was full of the sort of upper-middle-class Surrey women with sharp elbows you would flee from in a dark alley.

Modifies a noun

  • grease: Elbow grease can add more value to your house than almost anything else.
  • flexion: Avoid elbow flexion in the short term ( not for chronic cases ).
  • dysplasia: Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy should be tested for.
  • flexor: Elbow Study - main outcome measure was elbow flexor strength.
  • crutch: Due to damage to my left arm, the left arm elbow crutch was removed.
  • bent: Keep the arm close to your side, elbow bent.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • aside: Unfair particularly to genuine refugees who are elbowed aside in the mismanagement and chaos we see at present.

Preposition: before

  • paralysis: If not--kindly relax that crablike clutch on my elbow before partial paralysis ensues.

Preposition: in

  • rib: A sharp elbow in the ribs which pushed her backward and would have had her on the floor if someone hadn't caught her.

Noun used with modifier

  • tennis: Was not playing at all well, technique shot to pieces, bit of a tennis elbow by the end.
  • leather: Fred tells Diana in June that if she puts leather elbow reinforcement on a jumper he will pay her £ 140 for it.
elbow Quotes

Enclosing every thin man, there's a fat man demanding elbow room. See Connolly 233:82, Orwell 628:52.

—Waugh, Evelyn Arthur StJohn

The big houses sat in self-congratulatory propinquity on their level green lawns†stout matrons seated elbow to elbow, implacably chaperoning a ball.

—Gill, Brendan

The man lies late since he has lost his job, smokes on one elbow, letting his coughs fall thinly into an air too poor to rob.

—Morgan, Edwin George

Browse dictionary entries near elbow

  1. Elbert
  2. Elbe
  3. Elba
  4. Elazig
  5. elation
  6. elaterium
  7. elaterite
  8. elaterid
  9. elater
  10. elated
  1. elbow grease
  2. elbowroom
  3. Elbrus
  4. Elburz Mountains
  5. Elche
  6. Elcomsoft Co. Ltd.
  7. eld
  8. elder
  9. Elder Days Era
  10. elder law