Online dictionaryOnline dictionary
Synonyms, antonyms, pronunciation

  Home
English Dictionary      examples: 'day', 'get rid of', 'New York Bay'




Leg   /lɛg/   Listen
noun
Leg  n.  
1.
A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot.
2.
That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses or dividers.
3.
The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.
4.
A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. (Obs.) "He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he never received."
5.
A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. (Slang, Eng.)
6.
(Naut.) The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.
7.
(Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; called also water leg.
8.
(Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the belt which carries the buckets.
9.
(Cricket) A fielder whose position is on the outside, a little in rear of the batter.
10.
(Math.) Either side of a triangle distinguished from the base or, in a right triangle, from the hypotenuse; also, an indefinitely extending branch of a curve, as of a hyperbola.
11.
(Telephony) A branch or lateral circuit connecting an instrument with the main line.
12.
(Elec.) A branch circuit; one phase of a polyphase system.
A good leg (Naut.), a course sailed on a tack which is near the desired course.
Leg bail, escape from custody by flight. (Slang)
Legs of an hyperbola (or other curve) (Geom.), the branches of the curve which extend outward indefinitely.
Legs of a triangle, the sides of a triangle; a name seldom used unless one of the sides is first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypotenuse and two legs of a right-angled triangle.
On one's legs, standing to speak.
On one's last legs. See under Last.
To have legs (Naut.), to have speed.
To stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to be independent.



verb
Leg  v. t.  To use as a leg, with it as object:
(a)
To bow. (Obs.)
(b)
To run. (Low)






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








Advanced search
     Find words:
Starting with
Ending with
Containing
Matching a pattern  

Synonyms
Antonyms
Quotes
Words linked to  

only single words



Share |
Add this dictionary
to your browser search bar





"Leg" Quotes from Famous Books



... "Now tell me: When you turned out you knew perfectly well that a broken leg or a broken arm—perhaps a cracked skull—was a distinct possibility. Did you think about this when you went into the game? Did you think about it while ...
— An Amiable Charlatan • E. Phillips Oppenheim

... one overall leg off and the other on, and looked at her. "Huh? What d'you mean—isn't well? Mother." His mouth was open. His ...
— O Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1919 • Various

... it would do me good." The cover was brought, upon which there was a picture of the fish. Lamb kissed it with a reproachful look at his friend, and then left the table and began to wander round the room with a broken, uncertain step, as if he almost forgot to put one leg before the other. His sister rose after a while, and commenced walking up and down in the same manner on the opposite side of the table, and in the course of half an hour they took their leave.' Landor, ...
— Little Memoirs of the Nineteenth Century • George Paston

... perfection; but now you must choose your career. If you like to stick to the church, you will possess great revenues, and nothing to do; if you choose to go into the army, you will risk your arm or your leg, but in time you may be a major-general with a wooden leg and a glass eye, the spectacle of an indifferent, ungrateful ...
— The Wits and Beaux of Society - Volume 1 • Grace Wharton and Philip Wharton

... castle fish-pond, where he prayed alone to Heaven, full of foreboding care. They reached Sintram's ear; he stood as if spellbound and made the Sign of the Cross. Immediately the little master fled away, jumping uncouthly on one leg, through the gates and shutting them ...
— Sintram and His Companions • Friedrich de la Motte Fouque


More quotes...



Copyright © 2025 Dictionary One.com