# thigh

/ˈθaɪ/ (US) · /θˈaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thigh
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. human anatomy

noun · CEFR B1

the top part of your leg, between your hip and your knee.

For teachers: the upper part of the human leg between the hip and the knee, containing the femur bone.

- He pulled a muscle in his left thigh while running for the bus.
- The surgeon made a small incision in the patient's upper thigh to access the femoral artery during the procedure.

### 2. animal anatomy or food

noun · CEFR B1

the top part of an animal's leg, often used when talking about meat.

For teachers: the corresponding part of the leg in other vertebrates, or the upper leg portion of a bird used as food.

- The recipe calls for four chicken thighs and a cup of white wine.
- Chicken thighs are often preferred by chefs over breast meat because their higher fat content prevents them from drying out during roasting.

## Examples

- My thigh muscles feel sore after the long run.
- The athlete wore a compression sleeve on her left thigh to support a minor muscle strain during the race.
- The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, extending through the thigh to provide structural support for the entire upper frame.

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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.