limblimb /lɪm/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
All the other countries signed the agreement, leaving Britain out on a limb. He’d gone out on a limb (=taken a risk) to help us.2an arm or leg3strong-limbed/long-limbed etc having strong, long etc arms and legs4a large branch of a tree → risk life and limb at risk2(1), → tear somebody limb from limb at tear2(9)
WORD ORIGINlimb
Origin:
Old English limEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Hundreds of children have lost limbs after stepping on mines.
- The calf stood up slowly, with trembling limbs and took its first, uncertain steps.
- When babies are born they have very little control over their limbs.
- Anyway, there's considerable loss of blood, massive lower limb and pelvic damage and some chest injuries.
- Even Jack felt a curious stiffening of the limbs.
- Here again, the descending limb of the loop of Henle in freely permeable to water but not to solute.
- My limbs fail, my mouth is parched, my hair is standing on end.
- Strength of limb, willingness of spirit-that would be sufficient.
- Their limbs moved in naked smoothness, shifting against each other, intertwining.
Longman Language Activatora part of the body
· The cancer may have spread to other parts of her body.· More heat is lost through the head than through any other part of the body.· Each exercise is designed to build up muscles in a different part of your body.
someone's body , not including the head, legs, or arms: · Mr Price's long body and short arms and legs gave him a rather strange appearance.· The black widow spider has red-orange markings on its body.· Baby monkeys cling to their mothers' bodies until they are old enough to start climbing by themselves.
the main part of a person's body, but not including the head, arms, or legs: · Kevin liked to walk around the house in nothing but a pair of jeans, showing off his muscular torso.· The search led to the discovery of a headless torso in the woods.
formal an arm or a leg: · When babies are born they have very little control over their limbs.· Hundreds of children have lost limbs after stepping on mines.· The calf stood up slowly, with trembling limbs and took its first, uncertain steps.
a part of a body, for example the heart or lungs, that does a particular job: · The liver is an extremely complex organ.· This diagram shows the position of the main organs of speech.vital organs (=the most important organs such as the heart): · Her vital organs are intact and she has a good chance of recovery.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He’d gone out on a limb (=taken a risk) to help us.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Why risk life and limb (=risk your life and health) jumping out of a plane just to raise money for charity?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
He’d gone out on a limb (=taken a risk) to help us. (=your legs)
(=an arm or leg that someone feels they still have after it has been cut off)
Why risk life and limb (=risk your life and health) jumping out of a plane just to raise money for charity?· After the war he founded the Disabled Society, lobbying the government to improve the quality of artificial limbs.· Some came on canes and artificial limbs.· What has it been like climbing with artificial limbs?· In much the same way computer simulation has been used in bioengineering in the design of prosthesis such as artificial limbs or hips.· He explains how new technology can make some products, like artificial limbs, lighter.· The main problem in Chechnya today is how to find artificial limbs for amputees.· The only hospital unit that can fit artificial limbs is in Vladikavkaz, in northern Ossetia.
· There would be a broken tree limb, she could sit quietly, think of other things.· When the prefect learned tbat Hadrian had been baptized, he had him broken limb from limb.
· She straightened the long limbs and pressed the strands of black cotton she had used for hair more firmly into the scalp.· Amy Van Dyken, 23, all giddy laughter and long limbs.
· Awards made during and after World War Two have the year of the award engraved on the reverse lower limb.· The lower limbs are very high, allowing in morning sun and filtered or dappled light during the rest of the day.· Symmetrical wasting and weakness was present in the upper and lower limbs and all tendon reflexes were absent.· Jeanie the Half Woman, born without lower limbs, walks on her hands, cooks and even raised a family.· Immobile, her lower limbs yet had the ripple of fined-down muscle about them, the promise of animal movement.· She moaned and her body stretched, her lower limbs pressing tight against him, his thigh filling her inner thighs.· Anyway, there's considerable loss of blood, massive lower limb and pelvic damage and some chest injuries.
· Then it is torn limb from limb up in the tree.
NOUN· Fig. 3.9 Proportions of proximal against distal ends of limb bones.· The other rib and limb bones eventually hardened from their vestigial origins in the cartilage of fishes.
· For example, in certain limbless lizards and snakes a limb bud develops but the apical ridge dies thus stopping limb development.· Cells in the limb bud must record whether they are forelimb or hindlimb cells and so alter their programme.· We tested this by grafting the tip of a limb bud to the flank of the embryo.
· There would be a broken tree limb, she could sit quietly, think of other things.· I loved the tree limbs fallen across the road.· It also had a mobile shoulder joint that would allow it to hang from tree limbs.· The tree limbs were covered with leaves and the green grass cushioned the sapphire blue of the sky.· Waves up to 30 feet tore away the beachfront of the Huatulco Sheraton and other bays, leaving tree limbs scattered everywhere.· In addition, tree limbs blowing constantly against the house can tear roof edges, damage siding and create a leak.
VERB· If a camel slid and fell, it could easily break pelvis or limb and that would be the end of it.· When the prefect learned that Hadrian had been baptized, he had him broken limb from limb.
· I don't think anything is worth the risk of losing your life or losing a limb.· They cite numbers and percentages of casualties, they give names of comrades who lost eyesight and limbs.· It was easy to manage, but it felt like I'd lost a limb!
· Fig.15 During an Alexander Lesson, you may be asked to lie on a table while the teacher moves your limbs.· But at least Baby Wiggles and Giggles has moving limbs and pretty blue eyes.
· Villeneuve, who had collided with Ralf Schumacher, gets paid £10MILLION for risking life and limb in Formula One.
· Even twenty yards back they could not stand up, but they could crouch and stretch each limb in turn.· They build up physical strength, stretching their limbs and testing their agility.· Or stretch her limbs and laugh at the careworn ways of her elders?· She moaned and her body stretched, her lower limbs pressing tight against him, his thigh filling her inner thighs.
· I thought he was going to tear me limb from limb.· They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, and flung the severed head into the swift river Hebrus.· Had she known, she'd have torn him limb from limb, bitten his sun-browned flesh till the blood flowed.· Like the very first poet, Orpheus, torn limb from limb...
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► strong-limbed/long-limbed etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1out on a limb alone and without help or support: - And the only way you're going to fail is if you get out on a limb.
- Breaking new ground often requires going out on a limb.
- But going out on a limb is one thing-this is going out on a twig, going out ona leaf.
- But only a purely wild man went out on a limb of four or five minutes.
- It was about ninety pounds and he went out on a limb for it, too.
- Junior was out on a limb.
- She was a chameleon, out on a limb, and had chosen a difficult camouflage.
- Until you came along, Century House was right out on a limb.
- The array of rules and regulations dealing with transport and behaviour on the highway are concerned with protecting life and limb.
- The Malvern Hills Classic meeting ... now in its fourth year ... isn't all about risking life and limb though.
- This meant I didn't have to get risk life and limb to get a good close up shot.
- Villeneuve, who had collided with Ralf Schumacher, gets paid £10MILLION for risking life and limb in Formula One.
- We're talking serious grievous bodily here, maybe loss of life and limb.
- Garcia's opponents are angry enough to tear him limb from limb.
- Had she known, she'd have torn him limb from limb, bitten his sun-browned flesh till the blood flowed.
- I thought he was going to tear me limb from limb.
- They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, and flung the severed head into the swift river Hebrus.
All the other countries signed the agreement, leaving Britain out on a limb. He’d gone out on a limb (=taken a risk) to help us.2an arm or leg3strong-limbed/long-limbed etc having strong, long etc arms and legs4a large branch of a tree → risk life and limb at risk2(1), → tear somebody limb from limb at tear2(9)