Elbow

/ˈɛlbəʊ̯/ · noun

Meaning

(anatomy) The joint between the upper arm and the forearm..

Definitions by Sense

1. (anatomy) The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.
2. (by extension) Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, coastline, etc.; an angular or jointed part of any structure, such as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
3. (US, dated, early 20th-century slang) A detective.
4. (basketball) Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the free-throw lane.
5. A hit, strike, or blow with the elbow.
6. (knots) Two nearby crossings of a rope.
7. (transitive) To push with the elbow or elbows; to forge ahead using the elbows to assist.
8. To strike with the elbow.

Example Sentences

Up to the elbowes naked were there Armes.

Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back

The water runs down with a strong, sharp stickle, and then has a sudden elbow in it, where the small brook trickles in; and on that side the bank is steep, four or it may be five feet high, overhanging loamily; […]

"An elbow, huh?" putting all the contempt he could in his voice; and somehow any synonym for detective seems able to hold a lot of contempt.

In the fair dinkum department that elbow prop Barrie McDermott threw into the face of Paul Sironen deserved to get him four months on the side-lines[.]

England ran Tunisia ragged in that spell but were punished for missing a host of chances when Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot against the run of play after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.

He elbowed his way through the crowd.

Synonyms for elbow

Antonyms for elbow

Related Words

Word Forms

• elbows
• elbowing
• elbowed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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