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Definition of leg noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    leg

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//lɛɡ//
     
     
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    part of body
  1. 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 Topic CollocationsPhysical AppearanceA 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/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 pointy/a Roman/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 forehead
    • a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
    • a long/full/bushy/wispy beard
    • a full/thin goatee
    • a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil 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/small/facial wrinkles
    • blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/ginger/gray 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/center 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/round/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/ (informal) (often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
    • muscular/chubby/ (informal) (disapproving) flabby thighs/calves
    • big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
    • a good/slim/slender/hourglass figure
    • be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
     see bow legs, daddy longlegs, leggy, legroom, peg leg, sea legs
    2. meat
  2. 2[countable, uncountable] the leg of an animal, especially the top part, cooked and eaten Would you like a leg or a breast? chicken legs leg of something roast leg of lamb
    3. of pants
  3. 3[countable] the part of a pair of pants that covers the leg a pant leg These jeans are too long in the leg.
    4. of table/chair
  4. 4[countable] one of the long, thin parts on the bottom of a table, chair, etc. that support it a chair leg
    5. -legged
  5. 5
    NAmE//ˈlɛɡəd//
     
    , NAmE//lɛɡd//
     
    (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/lɛɡəd/; in other adjectives it can be pronounced/lɛɡəd/ or/lɛɡd/ (but/lɛɡəd/ is more common). see cross-legged
    6. of trip/race
  6. 6[countable] leg (of something) one part of a trip or race synonym section, stage The final leg of the trip was by donkey.
    7. Idioms
    as fast as your legs can carry you
     
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    as quickly as you can
    be on your/its last legs
     
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    to be going to die or stop functioning very soon; to be very weak or in bad condition
    break a leg! (informal)
     
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    used to wish someone good luck
    cost/pay an arm and a leg (informal)
     
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    to cost/pay a lot of money
      give somebody a leg up (informal)
       
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    1. 1to help someone to get on a horse, over a wall, etc. by allowing them to put their foot in your hands and lifting them up
    2. 2to help someone to improve their situation The loan from his father gave him a leg up when he needed it.
    have legs (informal)
     
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    if you say that a news story, etc. has legs, you mean that people will continue to be interested in it for a long time
    not have a leg to stand on (informal)
     
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    to be in a position where you are unable to prove something or explain why something is reasonable Without written evidence, we don't have a leg to stand on.
    pull somebody's leg (informal)
     
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    to play a joke on someone, usually by making them believe something that is not true
    shake a leg (old-fashioned) (informal)
     
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    used to tell someone to start to do something or to hurry
    stretch your legs (informal)
     
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    to go for a short walk after sitting for some time It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs.
    with your tail between your legs (informal)
     
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    feeling ashamed or unhappy because you have been defeated or punished
See leg in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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