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legs - 3 dictionary results

leg

  [leg] noun, verb, legged, leg⋅ging.
Use legs in a Sentence
–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.
a. one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a sailing ship.
b. one straight or nearly straight part of a multiple-sided course in a sailing race.
12. Sports.
a. one of a designated number of contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner.
b. 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.
a. 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.
b. the fielder playing this part of the field.
c. 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. bride 2 (def. 1).
–verb (used with object)
18. to move or propel (a boat) with the legs: They legged the boat through the tunnel.
—Verb phrase
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,
a. a means of help or encouragement; assist; boost: Studying the material with a tutor will give you a leg up on passing the exam.
b. 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 or its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.: The aristocracy was on its last legs.
24. pull someone's leg,
a. to make fun of someone; tease.
b. to deceive someone; trick someone.
25. shake a leg, Informal.
a. to hurry up.
b. 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; ME < ON leggr

Related forms:
legless, adjective
leglike, adjective

bride

2  [brahyd; Fr. breed]
–noun
1. Also called bar, leg, tie. a connection consisting of a thread or a number of threads for joining various solid parts of a design in needlepoint lace.
2. an ornamental bonnet string.
Origin:
1865–70; < F: bonnet-string, bridle, OF < Gmc; see bridle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To legs
leg   (lěg)   
n.  
    1. A limb or an appendage of an animal, used for locomotion or support.
    2. One of the lower or hind limbs in humans and primates.
    3. The part of the limb between the knee and foot in vertebrates.
    4. The back part of the hindquarter of a meat animal.
    5. Nautical The distance traveled by a sailing vessel on a single tack.
    6. The part of an air route or a flight pattern that is between two successive stops, positions, or changes in direction.
    7. One of several contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner of a competition.
    8. Sports One stretch of a relay race.
  2. A supporting part resembling a leg in shape or function.
  3. One of the branches of a forked or jointed object.
  4. The part of a garment, especially of a pair of trousers, that covers the leg.
  5. Mathematics Either side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse.
  6. A stage of a journey or course, especially:
    1. Nautical The distance traveled by a sailing vessel on a single tack.
    2. The part of an air route or a flight pattern that is between two successive stops, positions, or changes in direction.
    3. One of several contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner of a competition.
    4. Sports One stretch of a relay race.
  7. legs The narrow streams of swirled wine or spirits that run slowly down along the inside of a glass, often believed to indicate that the liquid is full-bodied.
  8. legs The ability to last or sustain success, especially by appealing to an audience: a blockbuster movie that has legs.
intr.v.   legged, leg·ging, legs Informal
To go on foot; walk or run. Often used with the indefinite it: Because we missed the bus, we had to leg it across town.

[Middle English, from Old Norse leggr.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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