leg
leg definition
leg (leg)
noun
- one of the parts of the body by means of which animals stand and walk, specif., in human beings,
- one of the lower limbs
- Anat. the part of either lower limb from the knee to the foot
- a cut of meat consisting of the leg or its lower part
- the part of a stocking, slacks, etc. that covers the leg
- anything that resembles a leg in shape or use; specif.,
- a bar or pole used as a support or prop
- any of the supports of a piece of furniture
- any of the branches of a forked or jointed object
- the run made by a sailing vessel on one tack
- any of the stages of a journey or other course
- Slang a sustained ability to attract audiences: said as of a film
- Cricket that part of the field which lies to the left and back of the batsman
- Math. either of the sides of a triangle other than its base or, in a right-angled triangle, its hypotenuse
Etymology: ME < ON leggr, a leg, limb < IE base *lek-, limb > L lacertus, muscle, lacerta, lizard
Related Forms:
- legless leg′·less adjective
leg Idioms
get up on one's hind legs
Informal to become assertive, belligerent, etc.
give a leg up
Informal- to help to mount
- to help advance
not have a leg to stand on
Informal to have absolutely no defense, excuse, or justification
pull someone's leg
Informal to make fun of or fool by playing on a person's credulity
shake a leg
Slang- to hurry
- to dance
stretch one's legs
to walk, esp. after sitting a long time
take to one's legs
to run away
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Related Discussions (3)
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| Pull One's Leg | 3 | 4 years ago |
| "to talk the hind leg off a donkey" | 13 | 5 years ago |
| Making a leg | 4 | 5 years ago |
Share on Facebook