limb

limb — noun

1. Any of the long projecting parts of the human body — the arms and legs — or a si

1.nounB1
Definition

Any of the long projecting parts of the human body — the arms and legs — or a similar outer body part that an animal uses to move, climb, or hold things.

Example

Mira broke her lower limb in a skiing accident and used crutches for two months.

collocation: lower limb / upper limb

The lizard can grow back a lost limb over several weeks, which fascinates biologists.

collocation: lost limb

Common collocations
  • lower limb
  • upper limb
  • broken limb
  • injured limb
  • lost limb
  • phantom limb
  • limb movement
  • limb pain
Synonyms
  • arm

    refers specifically to the upper limb, from shoulder to hand

  • leg

    refers specifically to the lower limb, from hip to foot

  • extremity

    more formal or medical term for a limb, often in plural

  • appendage

    broader term that includes limbs plus other attached parts like a tail

Antonyms
  • torso

    the main body without the limbs

  • trunk

    the central part of the body, excluding limbs

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] + limb

limb + of + [person/animal]

Usage Note

When talking about one specific arm or leg, English speakers often use 'arm' or 'leg' rather than 'limb'. The word 'limb' is most common in medical contexts, in plural form ('limbs'), or when the distinction between arm and leg is not important.

Common Mistakes

He broke a limb in his left arm.
He broke his left arm.
'limb' already includes both arms and legs; you do not need to specify 'arm' after it.

2. One of the thick, strong branches that grow out from the central trunk of a tree

2.nounB1
Definition

One of the thick, strong branches that grow out from the central trunk of a tree, usually larger and more solid than ordinary twigs.

Example

A strong wind snapped a thick limb off the old oak tree in Paloma's garden.

collocation: snapped a limb / thick limb

The children built a tree house on the lowest limb of the banyan tree.

Common collocations
  • thick limb
  • sturdy limb
  • dead limb
  • lowest limb
  • tree limb
  • limb of an oak/pine/maple
  • snap a limb
  • cut off a limb
Synonyms
  • branch

    general term for any tree limb, smaller or larger

  • bough

    literary word for a main branch of a tree

  • offshoot

    a smaller branch growing from a larger one

Antonyms
  • trunk

    the main central stem of a tree

  • twig

    a very small, thin branch at the end of a limb

Grammar Patterns

limb + of + [tree]

tree + limb

Usage Note

When used for a tree, 'limb' suggests a thick, main branch growing directly from the trunk, whereas 'branch' can refer to any size from a small twig upward. 'Bough' is a near-synonym for a large limb but sounds more literary.

Common Mistakes

A small limb fell from the bush.
A small branch fell from the bush.
'limb' for trees implies a thick, main branch, not a small one.
Idioms

out on a limb

idiom

In a position where you are not supported by others, especially because you hold an opinion or take an action that other people disagree with or do not share.

Yael went out on a limb by criticizing the company's strategy in front of the whole board.

The politician went out on a limb to support a law that most voters opposed.

risk life and limb

idiom

To put yourself in a situation where you could be seriously injured or killed, used to emphasise the great danger of an activity.

Firefighters risk life and limb every time they enter a burning building to save people.

The climbers risked life and limb to reach the summit before the storm hit.

tear/rip somebody limb from limb

idiom

To attack or punish someone with extreme violence, often used humorously or as a threat that is not meant literally.

Mauricio joked that his little brother would tear him limb from limb if he touched his video games.

The angry fans looked ready to rip the referee limb from limb after the bad call.

limb — verb

Word family

  • limber
    adjectiveC1
  • limbless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to body parts that project from the main body, but they differ in scope and register. 'Arm' and 'leg' are the everyday words for the upper and lower limbs respectively — use them when you want to be specific. 'Limb' is broader, covering both arms and legs, and is common in medical or general descriptions ('He lost a limb in the accident'). 'Extremity' is a formal medical term for a limb, almost always used in the plural ('the extremities'), and may include fingers and toes. 'Appendage' is the broadest term: it includes limbs plus a tail, antennae, or other attached parts. In biology, a starfish arm is an appendage but not a limb. For everyday conversation, use 'arm' or 'leg' when you know which part you mean; use 'limb' when you mean any or all of them.

arm ↗leg ↗extremityappendage

Common collocations

Nouns

  • tree limb
  • limb movement
  • limb pain

Phrases

Prepositions

  • of [tree/body]
  • on a limb
  • from [tree/body]

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'limb' comes from Old English 'lim', meaning a body part or branch of a tree. It is related to Old Norse 'limr' (limb) and 'lim' (branch). The two main meanings — a part of the body and a branch of a tree — have existed side by side since the earliest recorded English. The verb senses developed much later, in the 17th–18th centuries, as specialised terms in hunting and forestry.