noun
Common
legs
lehgz
Legs (noun) means the streaks that form on the inside of a wine glass after swirling, used informally to judge a wine's body. Example: “This red has great legs — you can tell it has a high alcohol content.”
noun
1
The streaks that form on the inside of a wine glass after swirling, used informally to judge a wine's body.
"This red has great legs — you can tell it has a high alcohol content."
"Swirl the glass and watch the legs run slowly down the side."
"The wine's thick legs made him guess it was strong and rich."
2
A film, show, or trend's ability to keep drawing an audience over time.
"The movie had real legs, staying in theaters for months."
"That cooking show has legs; people are still watching it years later."
"A catchy tune with legs can stay popular long after its first release."
How to use legs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeyond the literal body part, "legs" can describe wine streaks or how long something keeps its popularity.
Common pairings
this story has legs
the wine has legs
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This red has great _____ — you can tell it has a high alcohol content.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for legs
See all rhymes for legs →Frequently asked questions
What does “legs” mean?
The word “legs” means the streaks that form on the inside of a wine glass after swirling, used informally to judge a wine's body. In plain terms, beyond the literal body part, "legs" can describe wine streaks or how long something keeps its popularity.
How do you pronounce “legs”?
“Legs” is pronounced lehgz (/lɛɡz/ in IPA).
How do you use “legs” in a sentence?
Here is “legs” used in a sentence: “This red has great legs — you can tell it has a high alcohol content.”
What part of speech is “legs”?
“Legs” is a noun.
Is “legs” a common word?
“Legs” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “legs” have?
“Legs” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the streaks that form on the inside of a wine glass after swirling, used informally to judge a wine's body.
What do a wine's legs tell you?
Legs, the streaks that run down the inside of the glass after swirling, hint at a wine's alcohol and sugar content, which relate to its body and richness. Slow, thick legs often suggest a fuller, higher-alcohol wine. They are only a rough guide, though, not a reliable measure of quality.
What is the difference between wine legs and tears?
They are two names for the same thing. Legs and tears both describe the streaks that form and slide down a glass after you swirl the wine. Tears is a little more poetic, while legs is the more common, everyday term. Neither one indicates how good the wine actually is.
Do good wines have more legs?
Not necessarily. Prominent legs mostly reflect higher alcohol and sugar, not quality. A cheap, strong wine can show dramatic legs while an excellent, lighter wine shows few. Legs tell you about body and texture, so treat them as a clue to a wine's style rather than a mark of how good it is.
What causes wine legs to form?
Legs form because alcohol evaporates faster than water, changing the surface tension of the thin film left after swirling. This imbalance, known as the Marangoni effect, pulls the liquid into droplets and streaks that run back down the glass. More alcohol generally means more visible legs on the glass.
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