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Glite Dictionary
💪 Arm joint 🔄 A sharp bend 👕 Sleeve part 🤜 To push through
elbow

elbow

30 3.3
A sharp bend in a pipe, road, or river
  • noun
  • /ˈɛlboʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : codo
  • During the hike, we had to navigate around the sharp elbow curve in the road.
  • 90-degree elbow
  • tees and elbows
  • elbows and couplers

Examples

  • The plumber installed an elbow to redirect the flow of water through the pipe.

  • March turned on his stool to face the tables, resting his elbows on the bar.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • What about if you put an elbow on here and turned it?

  • And so the elbow is where the opening is.

  • The meters are designed to be installed between elbows without loss of accuracy.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The tapping accepts a noise muffler or venting elbow that directs exhaust away from tool operators.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The architect designed the building with a unique elbow structure to optimize space.

Synonyms

bend
vselbow
77 1.2

A curved part of a road, river, pipe, or body

is a sharper angle commonly found in pipes roads or rivers
crook
vselbow
11 4.4

A sharp bend in a road, river or path

is used specifically for sharp angles in pipes roads or rivers

Idioms

at my elbow
1 6.3

Someone is very near to give you help or advice

to bend one's elbow
  • UK
9.1

To drink alcohol with other people in a social place

elbow-deep in
  • Informal
6.8

Very involved in an activity, often working with your hands

to give the elbow
  • UK
9.0

To end a relationship or stop someone from working for you

Compounds

elbow grease
  • Informal
7 4.1

A lot of hard work with your hands and arms to clean or shine things

elbow room
  • Informal
5 4.1

Space to move or act freely without feeling crowded

tennis elbow
  • Specialized
4 4.1

Pain in the outer part of the elbow caused by using the arm too much, often from racket sports

elbow pad
1 2.1

A protective pad worn over the elbow to prevent injury during sports

elbow joint
1 3.0

A hinge between the upper arm and lower arm that lets the arm bend

elbow bone
3.0

The inner longer bone of the forearm between the elbow and the wrist

elbow mentality
  • Jargon
9.1

A competitive attitude that puts your interests ahead of others, ignoring teamwork

How Complex

valve
  • Specialized
153 4.1
to tee
  • Specialized
8.6
coupling
  • Specialized
25 5.3
pipe fitting
  • Specialized
1 3.6
elbow
  • Specialized
30 3.3
plug
50 1.5

Surface Forms

elbow singular
elbows plural

Etymology

Elbow used for a pipe or road bend comes from old English boga 'bend', like a 'bow' or curve. That's why a pipe elbow is simply a sharp 'bend' similar to the bend in an arm.