leg

[leg] /lɛg/
noun
1.
either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc., that support and move the body.
2.
Anatomy. the lower limb of a human being from the knee to the ankle.
3.
something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance.
4.
the part of a garment that covers the leg:
the leg of a stocking; trouser leg.
5.
one of usually several, relatively tall, slender supports for a piece of furniture.
6.
one of the sides of a forked object, as of a compass or pair of dividers.
7.
one of the sides of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.
8.
a timber, bar, or the like, serving to prop or shore up a structure.
9.
one of the flanges of an angle iron.
10.
one of the distinct sections of any course:
the last leg of a trip.
11.
Nautical.
  1. one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a sailing ship.
  2. one straight or nearly straight part of a multiple-sided course in a sailing race.
12.
Sports.
  1. one of a designated number of contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner.
  2. one of the stretches or sections of a relay race.
13.
legs, (in wine tasting) the rivulets of wine that slowly descend along the inside of a glass after the wine has been swirled, sometimes regarded as an indication that the wine is full-bodied.
14.
Cricket.
  1. the part of the field to the left of and behind the batsman as he faces the bowler or to the right of and behind him if he is left-handed.
  2. the fielder playing this part of the field.
  3. the position of this fielder.
15.
Electricity. a component or branch of a circuit, network, antenna, etc.
16.
Radio and Television. a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.
17.
bride2 (def 1).
verb (used with object), legged, legging.
18.
to move or propel (a boat) with the legs:
They legged the boat through the tunnel.
Verb phrases
19.
leg up, to help (someone) to mount a horse.
Idioms
20.
leg it, Informal. to walk rapidly or run:
We'd better leg it or we'll be late for class.
21.
leg up,
  1. a means of help or encouragement; assist; boost:
    Studying the material with a tutor will give you a leg up on passing the exam.
  2. advantage; edge.
22.
not have a leg to stand on, to lack a valid or logical basis for one's argument or attitude:
Without evidence, the prosecutor doesn't have a leg to stand on.
23.
on one's / its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.:
The aristocracy was on its last legs.
24.
pull someone's leg,
  1. to make fun of someone; tease.
  2. to deceive someone; trick someone.
25.
shake a leg, Informal.
  1. to hurry up.
  2. Older Use. to dance.
26.
stretch one's legs, to take a walk; get some needed exercise after prolonged sitting:
He got up during the intermission to stretch his legs.
Origin
1225-75; 1915-20 for def 10; Middle English < Old Norse leggr
Related forms
legless, adjective
leglike, adjective

leg.

1.
legal.
2.
legate.
3.
legato.
4.
legend.
5.
legislation.
6.
legislative.
7.
legislature.
Examples from the web for leg
  • Its arch is clockwise for the left leg and counterclockwise for the right leg.
  • The carapace is divided into two plates between the third and fourth leg set.
  • A luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee where the leg is often bow shaped.
  • Standing on one leg while pulling in the foot to the other leg.
British Dictionary definitions for leg

leg

/lɛɡ/
noun
1.
  1. either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella
  2. (as modifier): leg guard, leg rest, related adjective crural
2.
any similar or analogous structure in animals that is used for locomotion or support
3.
this part of an animal, esp the thigh, used for food: leg of lamb
4.
something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair
5.
a branch, limb, or part of a forked or jointed object
6.
the part of a garment that covers the leg
7.
a section or part of a journey or course
8.
a single stage, lap, length, etc, in a relay race
9.
either one of two races on which a cumulative bet has been placed
10.
either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
11.
(nautical)
  1. the distance travelled without tacking
  2. (in yacht racing) the course between any two marks
12.
one of a series of games, matches, or parts of games
13.
(cricket)
  1. the side of the field to the left of a right-handed batsman as he faces the bowler
  2. (as modifier): a leg slip, leg stump
14.
give someone a leg up
  1. to help someone to climb an obstacle by pushing upwards
  2. to help someone to advance
15.
(informal) have legs, to be successful or show the potential to succeed
16.
not have a leg to stand on, to have no reasonable or logical basis for an opinion or argument
17.
on its last legs, worn out; exhausted
18.
(informal) pull someone's leg, to tease, fool, or make fun of someone
19.
(informal) shake a leg
  1. to hurry up: usually used in the imperative
  2. to dance
20.
(informal) show a leg, to get up in the morning
21.
stretch one's legs, See stretch (sense 17)
verb legs, legging, legged
22.
(transitive) (obsolete) to propel (a canal boat) through a tunnel by lying on one's back and walking one's feet along the tunnel roof
23.
(informal) leg it, to walk, run, or hurry
Derived Forms
leglike, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old Norse leggr, of obscure origin

leg.

abbreviation
1.
legato
Word Origin and History for leg
n.

late 13c., from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse leggr "leg, bone of the arm or leg," from Proto-Germanic *lagjaz, with no certain ulterior connections, perhaps from a PIE root meaning "to bend" [Buck]. Cf. German Bein "leg," in Old High German "bone, leg." Replaced Old English shank. Of furniture supports from 1670s. The meaning "a part or stage of a journey or race" (1920) is from earlier sailing sense of "a run made on a single tack" (1867), which was usually qualified as long leg, short leg, etc. Slang phrase shake a leg "dance" is attested from 1881. To be on (one's) last legs "at the end of one's life" is from 1590s.

v.

"to use the legs; walk or run," c.1500 (from the beginning usually with it); from leg (n.).

leg in Medicine

leg (lěg)
n.

  1. One of the two lower limbs of the human body, especially the part between the knee and the foot.

  2. A supporting part resembling a leg in shape or function.

Slang definitions & phrases for leg

leg

noun
  1. An infantry soldier; grunt (Vietnam War Army)
  2. A woman, esp a sexually promiscuous one (1960s+ College students fr black)
verb

(also leg it) To go; travel: I was legging down the line (1601+)

Related Terms

an arm and a leg, bootleg, give someone leg, have a leg up on someone or something, peg leg, pull someone's leg, shake a leg, shake a wicked calf, tangle-foot


Related Abbreviations for leg

leg.

  1. legal
  2. legate
  3. legato
  4. legislation
  5. legislative
  6. legislature
Idioms and Phrases with leg

leg

In addition to the idiom beginning with
leg
also see: