limb

1. an arm or leg, or the analogous part on an animal, such as a wing

2. any of the main branches of a tree

limb

1. the edge of the apparent disc of the sun, a moon, or a planet

2. Botany

a. the expanded upper part of a bell-shaped corolla

b. the expanded part of a leaf, petal, or sepal

3. either of the two halves of a bow

4. either of the sides of a geological fold

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

limb

(lim) The apparent edge of the Sun, Moon, or a planet, or any other celestial body with a detectable disk.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

limb

[limb]

(anatomy)

An extremity or appendage used for locomotion or prehension, such as an arm or a leg.

(astronomy)

The circular outer edge of a celestial body; the half with the greater altitude is called the upper limb, and the half with the lesser altitude, the lower limb.

(botany)

A large primary tree branch.

(design engineering)

The graduated margin of an arc or circle in an instrument for measuring angles, as that part of a marine sextant carrying the altitude scale.

The graduated staff of a leveling rod.

(geology)

One of the two sections of an anticline or syncline on either side of the axis. Also known as flank.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Limb

a flat metal ring divided by lines into equal parts of circumference (for example, degrees or minutes). It is the most important part of instruments used in measuring angles (in astronomy, geodesy, physics, and so on); it gives a reading of the magnitude of the angle. The scale units of a limb are read by means of a vernier or a micrometric microscope.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

- if you will venture out on the limb as far as you think safe, and not let go the beetle, I'll make you a present of a silver dollar as soon as you get down."

"Out to the end!" here fairly screamed Legrand, "do you say you are out to the end of that limb?"

- how is it fastened to the limb? - what holds it on?"

was the skull nailed to the limb with the face outwards, or with the face to the limb?"

" 'A good glass in the bishop's hostel in the devil's seat forty-one degrees and thirteen minutes northeast and by north main branch seventh limb east side shoot from the left eye of the death's-head a bee line from the tree through the shot fifty feet out.' "

Acting upon this hint, I made the division thus: 'A good glass in the Bishop's hostel in the Devil's seat - forty-one degrees and thirteen minutes - northeast and by north - main branch seventh limb east side - shoot from the left eye of the death's-head - a bee-line from the tree through the shot fifty feet out.' "

"Upon this discovery I was so sanguine as to consider the enigma solved; for the phrase 'main branch, seventh limb, east side,' could refer only to the position of the skull upon the tree, while 'shoot from the left eye of the death's head' admitted, also, of but one interpretation, in regard to a search for buried treasure.

In youth, the tulip-tree, or Liriodendron Tulipferum, the most magnificent of American foresters, has a trunk peculiarly smooth, and often rises to a great height without lateral branches; but, in its riper age, the bark becomes gnarled and uneven, while many short limbs make their appearance on the stem.

Look down the trunk and count the limbs below you on this side.

View in context

if the Knight's feats in arms have shown that he hath limbs and sinews, his choice hath no less proved that his eyes are none of the clearest.''

View in context

In rare cases thromboembolism, an acute limb ischaemia can be a manifestation of PPCM which requires urgent diagnosis and intervention.

A case of peripartum cardiomyopathy presenting as bilateral acute limb ischaemia and gangrene