limb¹ / lim/ • n. an arm or leg of a person or four-legged animal, or a bird's wing. ∎  a large branch of a tree. ∎  a projecting landform such as a spur of a mountain range, or each of two or more such projections as in a forked peninsula or archipelago. ∎  a projecting section of a building. ∎  a branch of a cross. ∎  each half of an archery bow.PHRASES: life and limb life and all bodily faculties: a reckless disregard for life and limb.out on a limb in or into a dangerous or uncompromising position, where one is not joined or supported by anyone else; vulnerable: she's prepared to go out on a limb and do something different.tear someone limb from limb violently dismember someone.DERIVATIVES: limbed adj. [in combination] long-limbed. limb·less adj.limb² • n. 1. Astron. the edge of the disk of a celestial object, esp. the sun or moon.2. Bot. the blade or broad part of a leaf or petal. ∎  the spreading upper part of a tube-shaped flower.3. the graduated arc of a quadrant or other scientific instrument, used for measuring angles.

limb1 part of the body, spec. a member such as the arm, leg, wing; branch (l. of Satan, etc., imp, mischievous person; in OE. dēofles limu ‘devil's limbs’; whence simply limb XVII) OE. lim n., pl. limu, corr. to ON. limr m.; prob. rel. to OE. lið limb ( = Du. lid; see LAY-FIGURE). Parasitic b prob. arose in obl. forms, and has now disappeared in pronunc.

limb
1. An appendage of a vertebrate animal, such as the leg or arm of a mammal or the wing of a bird. See also pentadactyl limb.

2. The expanded upper part of a sepal, petal, or leaf.

3. The widened upper section of a gamopetalous corolla.

limb2
A. †limbo of Hell XV;

B. edge or boundary of a surface or instrument XVI. — F. limbe or its source L. limbus (see LIMBO).

limb go out on a limb put oneself in a position where one is not joined or supported by anyone else.
life and limb life and all one's bodily faculties.