Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense limbers, present participle limbering, past tense, past participle limbered
Phrasal verbs:
See limber up
limber in British English1
(ˈlɪmbə)
adjective
1.
capable of being easily bent or flexed; pliant
2.
able to move or bend freely; agile
Derived forms
limberly (ˈlimberly)
adverb
limberness (ˈlimberness)
noun
Word origin
C16: origin uncertain
limber in British English2
(ˈlɪmbə)
noun
1.
part of a gun carriage, often containing ammunition, consisting of an axle, pole, and two wheels, that is attached to the rear of an item of equipment, esp field artillery
verb
2. (usually foll by up)
to attach the limber (to a gun, etc)
Word origin
C15 lymour shaft of a gun carriage, origin uncertain
limber in British English3
(ˈlɪmbə)
noun
(often plural) nautical
(in the bilge of a vessel) a fore-and-aft channel through a series of holes in the frames (limber holes) where water collects and can be pumped out
Word origin
C17: probably changed from French lumière hole (literally: light)
limber in American English1
(ˈlɪmbər)
adjective
1.
easily bent; flexible; pliant
2.
able to bend the body easily; supple; lithe
verb transitive
3.
to make limber
to limber the fingers
verb intransitive
4.
to make oneself limber, as by exercises
usually with up
Derived forms
limberness (ˈlimberness)
noun
Word origin
< ? limb1
limber in American English2
(ˈlɪmbər)
noun
1.
the two-wheeled, detachable front part of a gun carriage, usually supporting an ammunition chest
verb transitive, verb intransitive
2.
to attach the limber to (a gun carriage), as in preparing to move off
often with up
Word origin
ME lymour < ? ML limonarius, of the shaft of a cart < limo, shaft < ?
Examples of 'limber' in a sentence
limber
I thought it might sort of limber Christian up for the hospital.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Even Axel's legs hung limber but still at just the proper angle.
Smiley, Jane BARN BLIND (2002)
(adjective)
Definition
able to move or bend the body freely
He bent at the waist to show how limber his long back was.
Synonyms
pliant
pliant young willows
flexible
brushes with long, flexible bristles
supple
Paul was incredibly supple and strong.
agile
He is not as strong and agile as he was at 20.
plastic
The mud is as soft and plastic as butter.
graceful
elastic
Work the dough until it is slightly elastic.
lithe
His walk was lithe and graceful.
pliable
The baskets are made with young, pliable spruce roots.
lissom(e)
loose-jointed
loose-limbed
a loose-limbed, feline figure wearing black gloves
phrasal verb
See limber up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agile
Definition
quick in movement
He is not as strong and agile as he was at 20.
Synonyms
nimble,
active,
quick,
lively,
swift,
brisk,
supple,
sprightly,
lithe,
limber,
spry,
lissom(e)
in the sense of elastic
Definition
capable of returning to its original shape after stretching, compression, or other distortion
Work the dough until it is slightly elastic.
Synonyms
flexible,
yielding,
supple,
rubbery,
pliable,
plastic,
springy,
pliant,
tensile,
stretchy,
ductile,
stretchable
in the sense of flexible
Definition
able to be bent easily without breaking
brushes with long, flexible bristles
Synonyms
pliable,
plastic,
yielding,
elastic,
supple,
lithe,
limber,
springy,
willowy,
pliant,
tensile,
stretchy,
whippy,
lissom(e),
ductile,
bendable,
mouldable
Nearby words of
limber
lily-livered
lily-white
limb
limber
limber up
limbo
limelight
Related terms of
limber
limber up
Synonyms of 'limber'
limber
Explore 'limber' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lithe
Definition
attractively graceful and supple in movement
His walk was lithe and graceful.
Synonyms
supple,
flexible,
agile,
limber,
pliable,
pliant,
lissom(e),
loose-jointed,
loose-limbed
in the sense of loose-jointed
Definition
supple and lithe
Synonyms
supple,
flexible,
elastic,
agile,
lithe,
limber,
pliable,
pliant,
lissom(e)
in the sense of loose-limbed
a loose-limbed, feline figure wearing black gloves
Synonyms
limber,
plastic,
flexible,
graceful,
elastic,
supple,
agile,
lithe,
pliable,
pliant,
lissom(e),
loose-jointed
in the sense of plastic
Definition
capable of being moulded or formed
The mud is as soft and plastic as butter.
Synonyms
pliant,
soft,
flexible,
supple,
pliable,
tensile,
ductile,
mouldable,
fictile
in the sense of pliable
Definition
easily bent
The baskets are made with young, pliable spruce roots.
Synonyms
flexible,
plastic,
supple,
lithe,
limber,
malleable,
pliant,
tensile,
bendy,
ductile,
bendable
in the sense of supple
Definition
(of a person) moving and bending easily and gracefully