elbow1 nounelbow2 verb
elbowel‧bow1 /ˈelbəʊ $ -boʊ/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINelbow1
Origin:
Old English elbogaEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Apply once or twice a week, especially to backs of arms and thighs, your feet, elbows and knees.
- His shot had struck the shoulder joint, and... came out between the shoulder and elbow.
- Lying as shown, raise the elbows, head and shoulders, bringing your chin as close to your chest as possible.
- Most of the Acutes in the dorm. are up on their elbows, blinking and listening.
- Polly said, materializing at my elbow.
- The group has a single tendon insertion below the elbow into the forearm.
Longman Language Activatorspace
an empty area that can be used or filled by things or people: · I wish we had more space in our office.· There's a space on the form where you write the name of your school.space for: · We don't have enough space for all our furniture.space to do something: · Could you find me a space to store these boxes in?storage/closet/disk etc space: · Our apartment is small, and doesn't have much storage space.living/parking space: · Tens of thousands of acres of farmland are swallowed up each year by developers seeking living space for the city's fast-growing population.office space: · We help corporations to relocate, and give them advice on how to maximize office space.empty space: · Where Marion's photo had once been was now an empty space.green (=space where there are grass and trees): · The city would be unbearable in the summer without its green spaces. open space (=space where there are no buildings): · London's parks and open spaces· the wide open spaces of the American West
enough space available to put things in, or to use for a particular purpose: · We can't sit there, there's not enough room.have room for: · Do you have room for this in your bag?leave room for (=make sure there is enough room for): · Leave room for people to get by.room to do something: · He didn't think he had room to pass the car in front.room to spare (=some room available): · They had no room to spare in their car, so we had to take a taxi.
space for your legs, especially in a vehicle: · I enjoy flying Air Canada, because they give you plenty of leg room.
informal space to move or work easily: · They stood in the crowd, fighting for elbow room.· In October the museums and art galleries are less crowded, and there's more elbow room in restaurants.
also floor space the area of the floor of a room, especially the area that can be used: · The workshop is quite big but there's not much floorspace.· There was just enough floor space for a desk, a chair, and a filing cabinet.
WORD SETSanorak, nounarm, nounascot, nounBabygro, nounbalaclava, nounbandanna, nounbaseball cap, nounbasque, nounbathing cap, nounbathing costume, nounbathing suit, nounbathing trunks, nounbathrobe, nounbath towel, nounbeachwear, nounbeading, nounbeanie, nounbearskin, nounbell-bottoms, nounbelt, nounbelted, adjectiveberet, nounbespoke, adjectivebib, nounbikini, nounblack-tie, adjectiveblazer, nounblouse, nounblue jeans, nounboa, nounbobble, nounbobble hat, nounbobby socks, nounbodice, nounbody, nounbody stocking, nounbody suit, nounboiler suit, nounbolero, nounbolo tie, nounbomber jacket, nounbonnet, nounboob tube, nounboot, nounbootee, nounbootlace, nounbottom, nounboxer shorts, nounbra, nounbraid, nounbrassiere, nounbreeches, nounbritches, nounbrogue, nounBurberry, business suit, nounbustle, nouncaftan, nouncagoule, nouncamiknickers, nouncamisole, nouncap, nouncape, nouncardigan, nouncare label, nouncarpet slipper, nouncassock, nouncast-offs, nouncasual, adjectivecat suit, nounchemise, nounchinos, nounchinstrap, nouncloak, nouncloche, nounclog, nouncloth cap, nouncoat, nouncoattails, nouncocked hat, nouncony, nouncoonskin, adjectivecope, nouncorset, nouncourt shoe, nouncouture, nouncowboy hat, nouncowl, nouncowl neck, nouncrew neck, nouncrinoline, nouncuff, nounculottes, nouncummerbund, nouncut, noundeck shoe, noundeerstalker, noundelicates, nounderby, noundicky, noundinner jacket, noundog collar, noundonkey jacket, noundouble-breasted, adjectivedoublet, noundrainpipe trousers, noundrawstring, noundress, noundressing gown, noundress shirt, noundress uniform, noundrip-dry, adjectivedry-clean, verbdry cleaner's, nounduffel coat, noundungarees, nounduster, nounearmuffs, nounelbow, nounensemble, nounespadrille, nounevening dress, nounfalsies, nounfashion, nounfashion show, nounfastener, nounfeather boa, nounfeathered, adjectivefez, nounfishnet stockings, nounfitting, nounfitting room, nounflannel, nounflannelette, nounflat, adjectiveflat cap, nounfleece, nounflip-flops, nounflipper, nounfloor-length, adjectiveflounce, nounflounced, adjectivefly, nounfootwear, nounformal, nounfox, nounfray, verbfrilly, adjectivefrock, nounfrock coat, nounfull, adjectivefull dress, nounfur, nounfuzz, noungabardine, noungaiter, noungaloshes, noungarment, noungarter, noungarter belt, noungather, verbgather, noungathering, noungauntlet, noungear, noungetup, noungirdle, nounglove, noungloved, adjectivegown, noungreatcoat, nounG-string, noungumboot, noungusset, noungym shoe, noungymslip, nounhaberdasher, nounhaberdashery, nounhalter, nounhand-me-down, nounhanger, nounhankie, nounhard-wearing, adjectivehat, nounhatpin, nounhatter, nounheadband, nounheaddress, nounheadscarf, nounhem, nounhem, verbhemline, nounhip pocket, nounhobnailed, adjectivehomburg, nounhooded, adjectivehook and eye, nounhose, nounhosiery, nounhot pants, nounhousecoat, nouninformal, adjectiveinsole, nouninstep, nouniron, nouniron, verbironing, nounjackboot, nounjacket, nounjammies, nounjeans, nounjerkin, nounjersey, nounJockey shorts, nounjockstrap, nounjodhpurs, nounjogging suit, nounjumper, nounjumpsuit, nounkaftan, nounkerchief, nounkhakis, nounkilt, nounkimono, nounknee breeches, nounknickerbockers, nounknickers, nounlace, nounlace-up, nounlapel, nounleg, nounleggings, nounleotard, nounlinen, nounloafer, nounloincloth, nounlong, adjectivelong johns, nounlounge suit, nounlow, adjectivelow-cut, adjectiveLycra, nounmac, nounmackintosh, nounmantle, nounmasquerade, nounmatinée jacket, nounmenswear, nounmilliner, nounmillinery, nounmini, nounminiskirt, nounmink, nounmitt, nounmitten, nounmob cap, nounmoccasin, nounmoleskin, nounmonogram, nounmoon boot, nounmorning coat, nounmorning dress, nounmorning suit, nounmourning, nounmuff, nounmuffler, nounmukluks, nounmule, nounmuu-muu, nounname-tape, nounnational costume, nounnational dress, nounneck, nounneckerchief, nounnecktie, nounnegligee, nounnightcap, nounnightclothes, nounnightdress, nounnightgown, nounnightie, nounnightshirt, nounnightwear, nounnon-iron, adjectiveoff-the-peg, adjectiveoilskin, nounone-piece, adjectiveopen, adjectiveopen-necked, adjectiveouterwear, nounoutfitter, nounoutsize, adjectiveoverall, nounovercoat, nounoverdressed, adjectiveovershoe, nounoxford, nounpadded, adjectivepanama hat, nounpanel, nounpantaloons, nounpanties, nounpants, nounpantyhose, nounparka, nounpatch, nounpatch, verbpatent leather, nounpeak, nounpencil skirt, nounpetticoat, nounpillbox, nounpinafore, nounpinny, nounpith helmet, nounpj's, nounplimsoll, nounplus fours, nounpolo neck, nounpolo shirt, nounponcho, nounpre-shrunk, adjectivepull-on, adjectivepullover, nounputtee, nounpyjamas, nounraglan, adjectiveraincoat, nounrainproof, adjectiveready-to-wear, adjectiveregalia, nounrevealing, adjectiverobe, nounrobed, adjectiverubber boot, nounruff, nounruffle, nounrun, verbrun, nounsable, nounsaddle shoe, nounsailor suit, nounsandal, nounsari, nounsarong, nounsartorial, adjectivesash, nounsatchel, nounscarf, nounschool tie, nounscoop neck, nounseamed, adjectiveseamless, adjectiveseparates, nounshawl, nounshell suit, nounshirt, nounshirtfront, nounshirt tail, nounshoe, nounshoehorn, nounshoelace, nounshoemaker, nounshoestring, nounshoulder, nounshoulder strap, nounshowerproof, adjectivesinglet, nounskin-tight, adjectiveskirt, nounskull cap, nounslicker, nounslingback, nounslip, nounslip-ons, nounslipper, nounsmock, nounsmoking jacket, nounsmuggling, nounsnap, nounsnappy, adjectivesneaker, nounsnowshoe, nounsnug, adjectivesock, nounsole, nounsole, verbsombrero, nounsou'wester, nounsox, nounsporran, nounsport coat, nounsport jacket, nounsports coat, nounsport shirt, nounsports jacket, nounsports shirt, nounsporty, adjectivestay, nounStetson, nounstiletto, nounstocking, nounstole, nounstone-washed, adjectivestraitjacket, nounstrip, nounstud, nounsuit, nounsundress, nounsun hat, nounsurplice, nounsuspender belt, nounsweatband, nounsweater, nounsweatpants, nounsweatshirt, nounsweat suit, nounswimming costume, nounswimming trunks, nounswimsuit, nounswimwear, nountailcoat, nountank top, nountee shirt, nounten-gallon hat, nounTerylene, nounthermal, adjectivethong, nounthree-piece suit, nountights, nountoga, nountop, nountopcoat, nountopee, nountop hat, nountopi, nountopper, nountracksuit, nountrain, nountrench coat, nountrilby, nountrousers, nountrouser suit, nounT-shirt, nountube top, nountuck, verbtuck, nountunic, nounturban, nounturtleneck, nountutu, nountuxedo, nountweed, nountwinset, nountwo-piece, adjectiveunderclothes, noununderdressed, adjectiveundergarment, noununderpants, nounundershirt, noununderwear, nounundies, noununiform, noununiformed, adjectiveunion suit, nounupper, nounveil, nounvelour, nounvelvet, nounvisor, nounvoluminous, adjectivewaist, nounwaistband, nounwaistcoat, nounwaistline, nounwardrobe, nounwashing, nounwaterproof, nounwear, nounwedding dress, nounwellie, nounwellington, nounwelly, nounwet-look, adjectivewet suit, nounwimple, nounwind breaker, nounwing collar, nounwingtip, nounwool, nounwoollen, adjectivewoollens, nounwoolly, adjectivewoolly, nounworsted, nounwrap, nounwrap-around, adjectivewrinkle, nounwristband, nounY-fronts, nounyoke, nounzoot suit, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a permanently damaged knee joint
a permanently damaged knee joint (=a pad that you wear to protect a part of your body when you are playing a sport)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· I try to twist my body so I can jab my left elbow in his face.· Sit up a little and touch your right elbow on to your left knee and then your left elbow on to your right knee.· Her left elbow was still stiff since her injury in the air raid and she failed a medical for heavier work.· Touch your right leg with your left elbow.· My little chair and table were at the King's left elbow.· Christine, check your left elbow seal.· Keep the left elbow on the floor for support.
· Reverse as your right elbow touches your left knee, turning to see the left side.· His primary replacement, Junior Bryant, is questionable with a torn ligament in his right elbow.· He is clearly a very good golfer, though his flying right elbow looks odd now.· And, then he developed serious problems with his right elbow.· He developed stress induced swelling of both knees and the right elbow.· Pippen started shooting Tuesday for the first time since he underwent surgery on his right elbow Jan. 29.· With your hands lightly placed at the sides of your head, sit up to touch left knee with right elbow.· The man who replaced him at New Orleans, Junior Bryant, is questionable with a hyperextended right elbow.
NOUN· I give the pink botty a thorough good scrub, putting in plenty of elbow grease.· Cleaning Thanks to the availability of steam, cleaning is now a simple task, taking very little effort and no elbow grease.· Pioneering vision is required, and elbow grease!· It certainly saved a lot of elbow grease.· Hopefully, this knowledge will save many householders a great deal of elbow grease!
· The shoulder and elbow joints are built around precision variable resistors and as each joint swivels so the variable resistor turns.· The large bone of the upper arm was splintered to the elbow joint, and the wound bled freely.
· Mr. Illsley Where would Nottinghamshire county council find the elbow room to which the hon. Gentleman referred?· The little clearing was shielded from the street by the laurels, and afforded him plenty of elbow room.· Packed three or four to a closet-sized room, students can come to envy the elbow room afforded sardines and cosmonauts.· The belt provides vast material resources, vast amounts of solar power, and vast elbow room.· Oh come, you must leave even me a little elbow room in which to breathe.· Give each elbow room to display its fronds.· There was enough elbow room in this gargantuan aquarium for all kinds of surprises to emerge.· A father, said Winnicott, can provide a space in which the woman has elbow room.
· I have met knitters with bad backs, frozen shoulders, tennis elbows and so on from doing to much knitting at a time.· The road racer's version of tennis elbow and other physical peculiarities are the downside of this progress.· Without a tennis elbow support, that is.
VERB· As the patient stands up, he practises bringing the ball back towards him by bending his elbows with good control.· She couldn't bend her elbow to raise her arms above her head.· The later stages of arm control involve lifting the hemiplegic arm and controlling it in space while bending and straightening the elbow.· The ball is so outstretched that Edney can not bend his elbow to use his upper-arm muscles.· Alternatively, hold a heavy medicine ball in both hands, bend your elbows and thrust it from you.· As you step-tap on to alternate feet, straighten and bend the left elbow to work the front of the arm.
· But she leant up on her elbow and looked down into his face and knew the truth of it.· He was lying sprawled across the pillow leaning on his elbow, his head propped to one side, reading the letter.· Beneath a canvas awning strung between two trees, several guys leaning back on their elbows were passing a small jug.· Then he sat on the floor beside her, half turned towards her, leaning on one elbow.· She leant her elbows on the table, clasped her hands lightly and rested her chin on them.· Inside he twisted round and, leaning his shoulder and elbow against the door, pushed it firmly to.· The eleventh commandment: Thou shalt not lean on thy left elbow, or else.
· Lil, propped up on one elbow, grins at me from under a towelling turban.· A guy came up on the bow and propped his elbows on the steel ledge to brace his large binoculars.· Long before dawn, I was propped on an elbow, with a warming mug of tea and a few verses of Romans.· I prop myself on my elbows.
· He put his elbows on his desk and propped his chin in his hands.· She squats down in front of me and puts her elbows on my knees.· They never put their elbows on the table, and they sat up straight instead of slouching.· I give the pink botty a thorough good scrub, putting in plenty of elbow grease.· He lifts his right arm with his left hand to put his elbow on a table.· She put her elbows on the desk and her head between her hands.· He put one elbow on the stage itself and stared straight at John.
· He raised himself on one elbow, and the pain bit him.· She raised herself on one elbow, so that she could look down on his face.· He raised himself on one elbow and gingerly felt around his feet.· Pull the tummy in and raise the elbows, head and shoulders towards your knees.· Lying as shown raise the elbows, head and shoulders towards the knees and hold up for 5 counts.
· I rubbed my elbow, regarding him thoughtfully.· There were retro-outfit types rubbing elbows with people wearing the original gear.· She came back into the kitchen, rubbing her elbow.· Sun-bleached surfers rub elbows at the bar, and stray toddlers wander through the dining rooms.· Léonie sat up, rubbing her elbows.· In some instances, what enticed these donors to open their checkbooks was the chance to rub elbows with the president.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1the joint where your arm bends2the part of a shirt etc that covers your elbow3elbow grease informal hard work and effort, especially when cleaning or polishing something4give somebody the elbow British English informal to tell someone that you no longer like them or want them to work for you and that they should leave5elbow room enough space in which to move easily: - You'll need to use some elbow grease to get that floor clean.
- Cleaning Thanks to the availability of steam, cleaning is now a simple task, taking very little effort and no elbow grease.
- Hopefully, this knowledge will save many householders a great deal of elbow grease!
- I give the pink botty a thorough good scrub, putting in plenty of elbow grease.
- It certainly saved a lot of elbow grease.
- Pioneering vision is required, and elbow grease!
- I won't have anything more to do with you lot till you give him the elbow.
- The girl must have given him the elbow, Harriet decided.
- In October the museums and art galleries are less crowded, and there's more elbow room in restaurants.
- Let's sit in a booth. There's more elbow room there.
- They stood in the crowd, fighting for elbow room.
- Give each elbow room to display its fronds.
- It can change the climate enough to give people elbow room to do the right things.
- Mr. Illsley Where would Nottinghamshire county council find the elbow room to which the hon. Gentleman referred?
- Oh come, you must leave even me a little elbow room in which to breathe.
- Packed three or four to a closet-sized room, students can come to envy the elbow room afforded sardines and cosmonauts.
- The belt provides vast material resources, vast amounts of solar power, and vast elbow room.
- The little clearing was shielded from the street by the laurels, and afforded him plenty of elbow room.
- There was enough elbow room in this gargantuan aquarium for all kinds of surprises to emerge.
There’s more elbow room in the restaurant since they extended it.6a curved part of a pipe → rub elbows with somebody at rub1(5)elbow1 nounelbow2 verb
elbowelbow2 verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
elbow
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | elbow |
| he, she, it | elbows | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | elbowed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have elbowed |
| he, she, it | has elbowed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had elbowed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will elbow |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have elbowed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am elbowing |
| he, she, it | is elbowing | |
| you, we, they | are elbowing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was elbowing |
| you, we, they | were elbowing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been elbowing |
| he, she, it | has been elbowing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been elbowing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be elbowing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been elbowing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Elbowing me to one side, he took hold of the microphone.
- Craig elbowed me aside roughly.
- Greene had to leave the game after being elbowed in the face.
- She elbowed her way through the crowd.
- He picked up Dougal's empty glass and elbowed through the crowd at the bar.
- I elbowed Karen unceremoniously aside and grabbed the paddle.
- One of the yellow-jacketed policemen elbowed his way to Lawrence's window.
- She laughed often; a great sudden masculine sound, jerking her arms as if elbowing the air out of the way.
Longman Language Activatorto push people in order to move forward
to push people, especially in a crowd, in order to move past them or in order to make them move: · Can you tell the people at the back of the queue to stop pushing!push your way through/into etc: · He pushed his way through the crowd.push past: · She pushed past me to the front of the line.
to push people in a rough and careless way with your hands, arms, or shoulders in order to move forward or past people: · The people moved forward towards the food, pushing and shoving to get there first.shove your way through/into etc: · Peter shoved his way through the dense crowd in search of his son.shove past: · Robert shoved past the others and made his way to the front of the room.
to move forward so fast and forcefully that you push someone as you pass them: barge into: · She just barged into me, without even apologizing.barge past: · A woman carrying a large basket barged past me to the front of the line.
to push hard in order to go somewhere when your way is blocked: force your way through: · He forced his way through the dense crowd.force your way into: · Police forced their way into the flat and arrested two men.
to push against one person or several people so that you knock them to one side, especially in order to reach a place or get something before they do: jostle for: · Passengers were jostling each other at the news kiosk for the last remaining copies of the evening paper.jostle to do something: · The children moved forward, jostling to get to the front and see the magician.
to push with your elbows in order to move past people: elbow your way through/into etc: · She elbowed her way through the crowd.elbow somebody aside/elbow somebody to one side: · Craig elbowed me aside roughly.· Elbowing me to one side, he took hold of the microphone.
to push in order to move forward with the rest of the crowd: press forward/round etc: · As the race started the crowd pressed forward towards the track.· The security men tried to hold back crowds of reporters pressing round the President's car.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She pushed through the crowd, elbowing people out of the way.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a permanently damaged knee joint
to push someone with your elbows, especially in order to move past themelbow your way through/past/into etc something (=move through a group of people by pushing past them) (=move through a group of people by pushing past them) He elbowed his way to the bar and ordered a beer.
He elbowed his way to the bar and ordered a beer. She pushed through the crowd, elbowing people out of the way. a permanently damaged knee joint (=a pad that you wear to protect a part of your body when you are playing a sport)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Charlie and I elbowed our way through the crowd.· Simon was not a Harvard graduate but a Lafayette College dropout who had elbowed his way to the top.· He elbowed his way to the bar and ordered a lager and a ham sandwich.· But then, in February 1885, a rival railway syndicate elbowed its way in.· One of the yellow-jacketed policemen elbowed his way to Lawrence's window.· On Earth, life elbows its way into solid, liquid, gas.· People were boarding and I elbowed my way into line.· Furiously he elbowed his way through the crush, his men behind him.
He elbowed his way to the bar and ordered a beer. She pushed through the crowd, elbowing people out of the way.