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Glite Dictionary
🦵 An arm or leg 🌳 A large branch 🌕 Edge of a disc 🏹 A tool's arm ✂️ To cut branches
to limb

to limb

4 7.9
To cut the branches off a tree, often after it is cut down
  • verb
  • /lɪm/
translation icon : desramar
  • It is important to limb a tree properly to promote healthy growth and reduce disease.
  • limb trees
  • drop and limb trees

Examples

  • After the storm, we had to limb the fallen tree before cutting it into firewood.

  • Cutting off limbs, skinning the feet of thieves and then putting salt on them and then letting goats lick off the salt.

  • The lumberjack skillfully limbed the large oak tree to prepare it for logging.

Synonyms

to cut off
vsto limb
  • NSFW
190 4.1

To remove something by cutting it away from what it is attached to

is specific to branch removal often done after a tree is felled
to lop
vsto limb
8 4.2

Cut off branches to make a tree or plant tidy and healthy

is used mainly after a tree is felled rather than for pruning

Antonyms

to grow
39 2.0

Become joined together over time, as body tissue or tree trunks

Idioms

out on a limb
  • Informal
54 7.0

In a risky position without support from others

to go out on a limb
  • Informal
37 6.1

To risk doing or saying something to support an idea

Compounds

phantom limb
  • Specialized
3 7.0

A feeling after losing an arm or leg that it is still there

phantom limb pain
  • Specialized
1 7.2

An uncomfortable feeling that seems to come from a missing arm or leg

hind limb
1 3.2

A back leg on an animal that helps it walk or jump

phantom limb syndrome
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A feeling of pain or other sensations in a missing limb

limb of Satan
  • Offensive
9.9

A person or thing that is very bad and harms others

limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
  • Specialized
8.0

A disease that slowly makes the shoulder and hip muscles weaker and smaller

How Complete

to clear
∞ 1.5
to strip
42 2.7
to limb
4 7.9
to prune
6 3.4
snip
7 1.1

Surface Forms

limb infinitive
limbed past
limbed past participle
limbing present participle
limbs third person singular

Etymology

To limb a tree means to cut its branches off, and this verb comes from the noun limb meaning 'branch'. A helpful way to remember is to think of removing the tree's 'arms' when you limb it.