elbow

Pluralelbows

Formselbows, elbowing, elbowed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The joint in the middle of your arm that lets it bend.

   Like the hinge on a door that lets your arm fold and straighten.

   She hit her elbow on the table and yelped.

   He rested his elbows on the desk while he read.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A sharp bend or angled part of something, like a turn in a pipe or a wall.

   Like the bend in your arm, but in a pipe or a road.

   The pipe had an elbow that turned sharply under the sink.

   We followed the river to a sharp elbow in the valley.

   Similarbend, turn, angle

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A hit given with the elbow.

   Like a quick knock from the hard, pointy part of your arm.

   He gave his brother a sharp elbow in the ribs.

   She caught a stray elbow during the crowded concert.

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To push or nudge someone, often to get past them.

   Like pushing through a crowd with your arms to make space.

   Stop trying to elbow me out of the line.

   Shoppers elbowed each other near the sale rack.

   Similarpush, shove, jostle, muscle

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To push people aside with your arms to move forward.

   Like using your arms to push through a packed bus.

   He elbowed the crowd aside to reach the front.

   She tried to elbow her teammates out of the way.

   Similarshove, push, jostle

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To hit someone using your elbow.

   Like giving someone a quick knock with the hard part of your arm.

   He elbowed the player who blocked his path.

   Don't elbow your sister, even by accident.

   Note
7. 7
   verbcolloquialtransitive

   To push someone out of their job so someone new can take it.

   Like pushing someone off a seat so you can sit there yourself.

   The new manager elbowed several older workers out within a month.

   They tried to elbow him from his post on the committee.

   Similarpush, force, squeeze, edge, shove

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable

   The spot on a basketball court where the free-throw line meets the side of the lane.

   She made the open shot from the elbow.

   The coach told him to stand at the elbow and wait for the pass.

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable

   Two places close together where a rope crosses over itself.

   Make an elbow by crossing the rope twice.

   The sailor formed an elbow before finishing the knot.

   Note

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