elbow

UK: /ˈɛlbəʊ/ US: /ˈɛlboʊ/ ,(el′bō)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

el•bow /ˈɛlboʊ/   n. 

[countable]
1. Anatomy, Zoology the bend or joint of the arm between the upper arm and forearm.
2. something bent like an elbow, such as a piece of pipe bent at an angle.

v. [~ + object]

3. to push aside with or as if with the elbow;
   jostle:
   She elbowed him aside and took the seat.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

el•bow  (el′bō), n. 

1. Anatomy, Zoology the bend or joint of the human arm between upper arm and forearm.
2. Anatomy, Zoology the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped. See diag. under horse. 
3. something bent like an elbow, as a sharp turn in a road or river, or a piece of pipe bent at an angle.
4. Architecture crossette.
5. Building Also called ell, el. a plumbing pipe or pipe connection having a right-angled bend.
6. Idioms at one's elbow, within easy reach;
   nearby:
   A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.
7. Idioms bend, lift, or crook an elbow, [Informal.] to drink alcoholic beverages.
8. Idioms give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.
9. Idioms out at the elbows:
   • poorly dressed;
     shabby.
   • impoverished. Also, out at elbows. 
10. Idioms rub elbows with, to mingle socially with;
    associate with:
    a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.
11. Idioms up to one's elbows, very busy;
    engrossed:
    I am up to my elbows in answering mail.
    Also, up to the elbows. 

v.t. 

12. to push with or as if with the elbow;
    jostle.
13. to make (one's way) by so pushing.

v.i. 

14. to elbow one's way:
    He elbowed through the crowd.

• bef. 1000; Middle English elbowe, Old English el(n)boga; cognate with Middle Dutch elle(n)bōghe, Old High German el(l)inbogo (German Ellenbogen), Old Norse ǫl(n)bogi; literally, "forearm-bend.'' See ell², bow¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

elbow / ˈɛlbəʊ/ noun

1. the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, formed by the junction of the radius and ulna with the humerus
2. the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals
3. the part of a garment that covers the elbow
4. something resembling an elbow, such as a sharp bend in a road or river
5. at one's elbow ⇒ within easy reach
6. out at elbow, out at elbows ⇒ ragged or impoverished
7. the elbow ⇒ rejection; dismissal (esp in the phrases get the elbow, give (someone) the elbow)
8. up to the elbows with, up to the elbows in ⇒ busily occupied with; deeply immersed in

verb

1. (transitive) to reject; dismiss
2. to make (one's way) by shoving, jostling, etc
3. (transitive) to knock or shove with or as if with the elbow

Etymology: Old English elnboga; see ell², bow²; related to Old Norse olbogi, Old High German elinbogo