# leg /ˈɫɛɡ/ (US) · /lˈɛɡ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leg Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. body part noun · CEFR A1 one of the parts of the body that a person or animal uses for standing and walking. For teachers: the lower limb of a human or the appendage of an animal used for support and locomotion. - He fell off his bike and hurt his left leg quite badly. - The surgeon explained that the fracture in the lower leg would require several months of physical therapy to regain full mobility. ### 2. furniture support noun · CEFR A2 a long, thin part under a piece of furniture, like a table or chair, that holds it up. For teachers: a vertical member providing structural support for an object such as a table, chair, or bed. - One leg of the kitchen table is shorter than the others, so it wobbles. - The antique desk featured elegantly carved legs that reflected the ornate style of the late eighteenth century. ### 3. part of a journey noun · CEFR B1 one stage or part of a long trip or race. For teachers: a distinct segment of a journey, race, or multi-stage process. - The first leg of our flight takes us from London to Dubai. - After completing the final leg of the marathon, the exhausted runners were greeted by a cheering crowd at the finish line. ### 4. clothing noun · CEFR A2 the part of a pair of trousers or pants that covers your leg. For teachers: the portion of a garment designed to enclose the wearer's leg. - The legs of these jeans are a bit too long for me. - The tailor suggested tapering the trouser legs to create a more modern, slim-fitting silhouette for the suit. ### 5. sports match noun · CEFR B2 one game in a series of games between two teams. For teachers: one of two or more matches played between the same opponents to determine an overall winner. - They won the first leg of the semi-final two-nil at home. - Despite losing the away leg, the team managed to advance to the finals based on their superior aggregate score from the home match. ### 6. staying power noun · CEFR C1 · Informal the ability of an idea, a film, or a story to stay popular for a long time. For teachers: the capacity of a product, idea, or creative work to endure or remain successful over time. - Critics didn't like the movie at first, but it had legs and became a hit. - The marketing team was surprised to find that the viral campaign had legs, continuing to generate engagement months after the initial launch. ### 7. geometry noun · CEFR C2 · Technical one of the shorter sides of a right-angled triangle. For teachers: either of the two sides of a right triangle that meet at the right angle. - To find the long side of the triangle, you must first square the length of each leg. - In a right-angled triangle, the sum of the squares of the two legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. ### 8. betting noun · CEFR C1 · Technical one single bet that is part of a larger group of bets. For teachers: an individual component or selection within a parlay or multi-bet strategy. - I won the first three bets, but the last leg of my parlay lost. - The gambler's potential payout was ruined when the final leg of his four-team accumulator failed to result in a victory. ### 9. to travel quickly verb · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal to walk or run somewhere quickly, especially when you are in a hurry. For teachers: to travel on foot with speed or effort; often used in the phrase 'leg it'. - We had to leg it to the station to catch the last train. - Seeing the security guard approaching, the teenagers decided to leg it across the park before they could be questioned. Usage: Commonly used in the phrasal idiom 'leg it' to mean running away or hurridiculously fast. ## Examples - My legs are tired after that long walk. - The wooden table was unstable because one leg was slightly shorter than the others. - The athlete suffered a minor fracture in her lower leg, which required several weeks of physical therapy before she could return to competitive sprinting. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.