limb Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
  2. noun any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree
    tree branch.
  3. noun (astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of the sun or the moon or a planet
  4. noun either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip
    • the upper limb of the bow
  5. noun the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles
    • the limb of the sextant
  6. noun any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm
    arm; branch.
    • the arm of the record player
    • an arm of the sea
    • a branch of the sewer

WordNet

Limb noun
Etymology
OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. li, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. lipus. Cf. Lith, Limber.
Definitions
  1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
  2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.
    A second Hector for his grim aspect, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Shak.
  3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else. Shak.
    That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows. Sir W. Scott.
  4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock. Landor.
Limb transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To supply with limbs. R. Milton.
  2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.
Limb noun
Etymology
L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.
Definitions
  1. A border or edge, in certain special uses. (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.

Webster 1913