leg

UK: /ˈlɛg/ US: /lɛg/ ,(leg)

Inflections of 'leg' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

legs

v 3rd person singular

legging

v pres p

legged

v past

legged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

leg /lɛg/   n., v., legged, leg•ging. 
n. [countable]

1. Anatomy either of the two lower limbs of a two-footed animal, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, that support and move the body.
2. something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance, as one of the sides of a triangle.
3. Clothing the part of a piece of clothing, boot, or the like that covers the leg.
4. Furniture one of usually several relatively slender supports for a piece of furniture.
5. one of the separate parts or sections of anything:
   on the last leg of a trip.

v. [no object]

6. to use the legs in walking or running:
   We were legging back to the store.

Idioms

7. Idioms a leg to stand on, [usually used with a negative word] facts or proof to support one's claims or arguments:
   With such skimpy evidence against us the police don't have a leg to stand on.
8. Idioms a leg up, an advantage:
   Our new product gave us a leg up on our competition.
9. Idioms on one's or its last legs, just short of collapse:
   The failing business was on its last legs when he took it over.
10. Idioms stretch one's legs, to move or walk around after a long time sitting.

-leg-, root. 

1. -leg- comes from Latin, where it has the meanings "law'' and "to gather;
   read.'' It is related to -lec-. These meanings are found in such words as: delegate, illegal, illegible, intellect, intelligent, legacy, legal, legate, legend, legible, legion, legislate, legitimate, paralegal, privilege, relegate, sacrilege.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

leg  (leg), n., v., legged, leg•ging. 
n. 

1. Anatomy either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc., that support and move the body.
2. Anatomy the lower limb of a human being from the knee to the ankle.
3. something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance.
4. Clothing the part of a garment that covers the leg:
   the leg of a stocking; trouser leg.
5. Furniture one of usually several, relatively tall, slender supports for a piece of furniture.
6. Building one of the sides of a forked object, as of a compass or pair of dividers.
7. Mathematics one of the sides of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.
8. Building a timber, bar, or the like, serving to prop or shore up a structure.
9. Building one of the flanges of an angle iron.
10. one of the distinct sections of any course:
    the last leg of a trip.
11. [Naut.]
    • Naval Terms one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a sailing ship.
    • Naval Terms one straight or nearly straight part of a multiple-sided course in a sailing race.
12. Sport
    • one of a designated number of contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner.
    • one of the stretches or sections of a relay race.
13. Wine legs, (in wine tasting) the rivulets of wine that slowly descend along the inside of a glass after the wine has been swirled, sometimes regarded as an indication that the wine is full-bodied.
14. Sport [Cricket.]
    • the part of the field to the left of and behind the batsman as he faces the bowler or to the right of and behind him if he is left-handed.
    • the fielder playing this part of the field.
    • the position of this fielder.
15. Electricity a component or branch of a circuit, network, antenna, etc.
16. Radio and Television a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.
17. Textiles, Clothing bride² (def. 1).
18. Idioms leg up:
    • a means of help or encouragement;
      assist;
      boost:
      Studying the material with a tutor will give you a leg up on passing the exam.
    • advantage;
      edge.
19. Idioms not have a leg to stand on, to lack a valid or logical basis for one's argument or attitude:
    Without evidence, the prosecutor doesn't have a leg to stand on.
20. Idioms on one's or its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.:
    The aristocracy was on its last legs.
21. Idioms pull someone's leg:
    • to make fun of someone;
      tease.
    • to deceive someone;
      trick someone.
22. Idioms shake a leg, [Informal.]
    • to hurry up.
    • [Older Use.] to dance.
23. Idioms stretch one's legs, to take a walk;
    get some needed exercise after prolonged sitting:
    He got up during the intermission to stretch his legs.

v.t. 

24. to move or propel (a boat) with the legs:
    They legged the boat through the tunnel.
25. leg it, [Informal.] to walk rapidly or run:
    We'd better leg it or we'll be late for class.
26. leg up, to help (someone) to mount a horse.

• Old Norse leggr
• 1225–75; 1915–20 for def. 10; Middle English

leg′less, adj. 
leg′like′, adj. 

leg., 

1. legal.
2. Religion legate.
3. Music and Dance legato.
4. legend.
5. Government legislation.
6. Government legislative.
7. Government legislature.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leg / lɛɡ/ noun

1. either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella
2. this part of an animal, esp the thigh, used for food: leg of lamb
3. something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair
4. a branch, limb, or part of a forked or jointed object
5. the part of a garment that covers the leg
6. a section or part of a journey or course
7. a single stage, lap, length, etc, in a relay race
8. either one of two races on which a cumulative bet has been placed
9. either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
10. one of a series of games, matches, or parts of games
11. the side of the field to the left of a right-handed batter as he or she faces the bowler
12. (as modifier): a leg slip, leg stump
13. have legs ⇒ to be successful or show the potential to succeed
14. not have a leg to stand on ⇒ to have no reasonable or logical basis for an opinion or argument
15. on its last legs ⇒ worn out; exhausted
16. pull someone's leg ⇒ to tease, fool, or make fun of someone
17. shake a leg ⇒ to hurry up: usually used in the imperative
18. stretch one's legs ⇒
    See stretch17

verb (legs, legging, legged)

1. leg it ⇒ to walk, run, or hurry

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norse leggr, of obscure origin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leg. abbreviation

1. legato