leg

The word “leg” means one of the limbs used for standing and walking. In plain terms, a limb for walking, or by extension any long supporting part, or one stage of a longer journey or contest.

“Leg” is pronounced LEHG (/ˈlɛɡ/ in IPA).

Here is “leg” used in a sentence: “She broke her leg skiing last winter.”

Words with a similar meaning to “leg” include drumstick and gam.

“Leg” is a noun.

The word “leg” comes from Old English. From Old Norse leggr, "leg, bone, tube" — the word came into English with Viking settlers and gradually replaced the native Old English term.

“Leg” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Leg” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the limbs used for standing and walking.

Limb is the general word for any of the body's main projecting parts, meaning the arms and the legs. A leg is specifically a lower limb, used for standing and walking. So every leg is a limb, but not every limb is a leg, since arms are limbs too.

The human leg runs from the hip to the foot. Its major sections are the thigh, or upper leg; the knee joint; and the shin and calf, which make up the lower leg, ending at the ankle and foot. The main bones are the femur, tibia, and fibula.

Beyond the body part, leg has many uses. It can mean a support of a table or chair, one stage of a journey or race such as the final leg, one match in a two-part sports tie, or the part of a trouser that covers the leg.

"He hasn't got a leg to stand on" means someone has no valid support for their argument. "On its last legs" means worn out or nearly finished, "stretch your legs" means take a short walk, and "the final leg" of a trip means its last stage.