Standard Lemma guide

limbless

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: L IH1 M L AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lacking limbs.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • It hurt the general to see the limbless veterans who had sacrificed their arms and legs to a senseless war.
  • We cut down the limbless tree for firewood. It was dead anyways.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

having no limbs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a snake is a limbless reptile

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: limbed

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English limb Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English limbless From limb + -less.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Manx: neuoltagh — lacking limbs
  • Punjabi: ਅੰਗਹੀਣ (aṅgahīṇ) — lacking limbs
Real reading context

limbless in complete knowledge articles

Praeteropus brevicollis Science & nature · Advanced · 4 uses