elbow Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
    elbow joint; cubitus; human elbow; articulatio cubiti; cubital joint.
  2. noun a sharp bend in a road or river
  3. noun a length of pipe with a sharp bend in it
  4. noun the part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint
    • his coat had patches over the elbows
  5. noun the joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow
  6. verb push one's way with the elbows
  7. verb shove one's elbow into another person's ribs

WordNet

El"bow noun
Etymology
AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG. elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. lnbogi; prop.; arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st Ell, and 4th Bow.
Definitions
  1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent.
    Her arms to the elbows naked. R. of Gloucester.
  2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
  3. (Arch.) A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Gwilt. ✍ Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room.
El"bow transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Elbowed ; present participle & verbal noun Elbowing
Definitions
  1. To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another.
    They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange. Macaulay.
El"bow intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow.
  2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence." Grainger.

Webster 1913