leg
Humans have two and horses have four legs.
One of the parts of the body of a human or animal that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin vertical parts of an object that it stands on
Humans have two and horses have four legs.
Theme, CEFR level & Tags
Oxford Essential Dictionary
leg
noun
1 one of the long parts of the body of a person or an animal that is used for walking and standing:
A spider has eight legs.
She sat down and crossed her legs.
2 one of the parts of a pair of trousers that covers your leg:
a trouser leg
3 one of the long parts that a table or chair stands on:
a table leg
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
leg
I. leg1 S1 W1 /leɡ/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: leggr]
1. BODY PART [countable] one of the long parts of your body that your feet are joined to, or a similar part on an animal or insect:
a young boy with skinny legs
She fell and broke her leg.
four-legged/long-legged etc
four-legged animals
2. MEAT [uncountable and countable] the leg of an animal when it is cooked and eaten as food:
roast leg of lamb
FURNITURE [countable] one of the upright parts that support a piece of furniture:
One of the legs on the table was a bit wobbly.
a chair leg
a three-legged stool
4. CLOTHING [countable] the part of your trousers that covers your leg:
The legs of my jeans were covered in mud.
He rolled up his trouser legs and waded out into the stream.
5. JOURNEY/RACE [countable] one part of a long journey or race
leg of
the final leg of the Tour de France
6. SPORT [countable] British English one of the series of games in a football competition played between two teams:
Leeds will have to win the second leg if they are to go forward to the finals.
7. not have a leg to stand on informal to be in a situation where you cannot prove or legally support what you say:
If you didn’t sign a contract, you won’t have a leg to stand on.
8. get your leg over British English informal not polite to have sex with someone
9. have legs American English informal if a piece of news has legs, people continue to be interested in it and talk about it
⇨ on its last legs at ↑last1(9), ⇨ on your last legs at ↑last1(8), ⇨ pull sb’s leg at ↑pull1(11), ⇨ ↑leg-pull, ↑leg-up, ↑peg leg, ↑sea legs, ⇨ shake a leg at ↑shake1(9), ⇨ show a leg at ↑show1(23), ⇨ stretch your legs at ↑stretch1(7)
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
leg
leg [leg legs legged legging] noun, verb [leɡ] [leɡ]
noun
PART OF BODY
1. countable one of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body
• Sit on the floor, stretching your legs out in front of you.
• I broke my leg playing football.
• How many legs does a centipede have?
• front/back legs
• forelegs/hind legs
• a wooden leg
see also bow legs, daddy-long-legs, inside leg, leggy, legroom, peg leg, sea legs
MEAT
2. countable, uncountable the leg of an animal, especially the top part, cooked and eaten
• frogs' legs
• chicken legs
• ~ of sth roast leg of lamb
OF TROUSERS/PANTS
3. countable the part of a pair of trousers/pants that covers the leg
• a trouser/pant leg
• These jeans are too long in the leg.
OF TABLE/CHAIR
4. countable one of the long thin parts on the bottom of a table, chair, etc. that support it
• a chair leg
-LEGGED
5. [ˈleɡɪd] ; [ˈleɡɪd] [leɡd] ; [leɡd] (in adjectives) having the number or type of legs mentioned
• a three-legged stool
• a long-legged insect When -legged is used with numbers, it is nearly always pronounced /[ˈleɡɪd] /; in other adjectives it can be pronounced /[ˈleɡɪd] / or /[leɡd] /.
see also cross-legged
OF JOURNEY/RACE
6. countable ~ (of sth) one part of a journey or race
Syn: section, Syn: stage
• The final leg of the trip was by donkey.
SPORTS GAME
7. countable (BrE) one of a pair of matches played between the same opponents in a sports competition, which together form a single round (= stage) of the competition
more at cost/pay an arm and a leg at arm n., as fast as your legs can carry you at fast adv., be on your/its last legs at last adj., pull sb's leg at pull v., shake a leg at shake v., stretch your legs at stretch v., with your tail between your legs at tail n., talk the hind leg off a donkey at talk v.
see also leg-up
Word Origin:
Middle English (superseding shank): from Old Norse leggr (compare with Danish læg ‘calf (of the leg)’), of Germanic origin.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Example Bank:
• Have you ever tried frogs' legs?
• He jumped to avoid the flailing leg of the defender.
• He lost a leg in a motorcycle accident.
• He put his back against the car, braced his legs and pushed.
• He rolled up his trouser legs.
• He rolled up the legs of his jeans.
• He rose to his feet on shaky legs.
• He sat down with his lame leg outstretched.
• He sat with his legs dangling off the bridge.
• He was shot in the leg by a sniper.
• He was wheeled out of the hospital with his leg in a cast/in plaster.
• He was wheeled out of the hospital with his leg in plaster.
• His legs buckled and he collapsed on the floor.
• I had a big bruise on my leg.
• I moved the chair away from the table so I could cross my legs.
• I was able to stand on my good leg.
• I'm getting my legs waxed tomorrow.
• It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs.
• Leg extensions use the quadriceps muscles to extend the knee.
• Many birds are able to stand on one leg for hours at a time.
• She crossed the finish line on tired legs.
• She had her leg amputated below the knee.
• She sat with her legs drawn up underneath her.
• She started running, fat legs pumping.
• She stretched her legs under the table.
• She swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her crutches.
• The dog lifted its leg against the lamp post.
• The dog sloped off, its tail between its legs.
• The fastest runner often runs the anchor leg of a relay.
• The fastest runner often runs the anchor leg= the last part of a relay race.
• These jeans are too long in the leg.
• They don't train the day before a match to ensure they have fresh legs.
• They gazed at each other, their legs entwined under the table.
• They made him put his hands on the police car and spread his legs.
• They ran together, their legs moving in unison.
• We were on the last leg of our journey.
• a fine pair of legs
• an injury to his upper leg
• Hopefully, the next leg of the race will feature fewer icebergs and more dolphins.
• I really believe we can turn around that 4–2 first leg deficit and win this game.
• The Spanish team won the third leg.
Idioms: break a leg! ▪ get your leg over ▪ have legs ▪ leg it ▪ not have a leg to stand on
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
leg / leɡ / noun [ C ] (BODY PART)
A1 one of the parts of the body of a human or animal that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin vertical parts of an object that it stands on:
My legs were tired after so much walking.
He broke his leg skiing.
The horse broke its front leg in the fall.
a chair/table leg
See picture body
the part of a piece of clothing that you put your leg in:
He rolled up his trouser legs and waded into the water.
leg / leɡ / noun [ C ] (STAGE)
a particular stage of a journey, competition, or activity:
He has tickets for the first leg of the UEFA Cup tie.
The last leg of the race was Paris to London.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
leg
/leg/
(legs)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A person or animal’s legs are the long parts of their body that they use to stand on.
He was tapping his walking stick against his leg.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
• -legged
Her name was Sheila, a long-legged blonde.
...a large four-legged animal.
COMB in ADJ
2.
The legs of a pair of trousers are the parts that cover your legs.
He moved on through wet grass that soaked his trouser legs.
N-COUNT: usu pl
3.
A leg of lamb, pork, chicken, or other meat is a piece of meat that consists of the animal’s or bird’s leg, especially the thigh.
...a chicken leg.
...a leg of mutton.
N-COUNT: n N, N of n
4.
The legs of a table, chair, or other piece of furniture are the parts that rest on the floor and support the furniture’s weight.
His ankles were tied to the legs of the chair...
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N, N of n
• -legged
...a three-legged stool.
COMB in ADJ
5.
A leg of a long journey is one part of it, usually between two points where you stop.
The first leg of the journey was by boat to Lake Naivasha in Kenya.
N-COUNT: usu ord N, N of n
6.
A leg of a sports competition is one of a series of games that are played to find an overall winner. (mainly BRIT)
They will televise both legs of Leeds’ European Cup clash with Rangers.
N-COUNT
7.
If you say that something or someone is on their last legs, you mean that the period of time when they were successful or strong is ending. (INFORMAL)
This relationship is on its last legs.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
8.
If you are pulling someone’s leg, you are teasing them by telling them something shocking or worrying as a joke. (INFORMAL)
Of course I won’t tell them; I was only pulling your leg.
PHRASE: V inflects
9.
If you say that someone does not have a leg to stand on, or hasn’t got a leg to stand on, you mean that a statement or claim they have made cannot be justified or proved. (INFORMAL)
It’s only my word against his, I know. So I don’t have a leg to stand on.
PHRASE: with brd-neg
10.
an arm and a leg: see arm
with your tail between your legs: see tail
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1leg /ˈlɛg/ noun, pl legs
1 [count] : one of the long body parts that are used especially for standing, walking, and running
• He sat on a chair with his legs crossed.
• He leaned against the wall with his legs spread so the police could search him.
• She broke her leg in a skiing accident.
• His legs gave way under him and he fell over.
• a wooden/artificial leg
• the dog's front/back/hind legs
- see picture at human; see also peg leg, sea legs
2 : an animal's leg when it is used as food
[count]
• We had chicken legs for dinner.
[noncount]
• Would you like some more leg of lamb?
3 [count] : any one of the long thin parts that support a table, chair, etc.
• the legs of a table
• a chair with a broken leg
4 [count] : the part of a pair of pants that covers the leg
• The legs of these jeans are too long. = These jeans are too long in the leg(s).
5 [count]
a : a part of a journey or race
• She took the lead in the last leg of the race.
• The weather got worse on each leg of the trip.
b : any one of several events or games that form a competition
• a horse that has won the first two legs of racing's Triple Crown
6 legs [plural] US informal : lasting appeal or interest
• a news story with legs
a leg up informal
1 give someone a leg up
a : to hold your hands together so that someone can step into them while climbing up onto something
• I don't think I can get on this horse without help. Can someone give me a leg up?
b : to give someone an advantage over others
• These skills will give you a leg up in the job market. [=they will help you get a job]
2 have a leg up : to have an advantage over others
• The company has a leg up on the competition thanks to the recent publicity.
an arm and a leg
- see 1arm
break a leg informal
- used in speech to wish good luck to someone (such as a performer);
get your leg over Brit informal + impolite of a man : to have sex with a woman
not have a leg to stand on : to have no support for what you think, say, or do
• He claims that the company cheated him, but without evidence of a written agreement, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.
on your/its last legs informal : very close to failure, exhaustion, or death
• The company is on its last legs.
• He was on his last legs, but he managed to finish the race.
• an old tree that is on its last legs [=that is dying and will not last much longer]
pull someone's leg informal : to make someone believe something that is not true as a joke : to trick or lie to someone in a playful way
• I panicked when he said the test was tomorrow, but then I realized he was just pulling my leg.
• When I got mad, she finally admitted that she was pulling my leg.
shake a leg informal : to go or move quickly
• You'd better shake a leg [=hurry up] if you don't want to be late for work.
- often used as a command
• Shake a leg! You're going to be late!
stretch your legs informal : to stand up and walk especially after sitting for a long period of time
with your tail between your legs
