forelimb

noun

fore·​limb ˈfȯr-ˌlim How to pronounce forelimb (audio)
: a limb (such as an arm, wing, fin, or leg) that is situated anteriorly
the forelimb of a bat

Examples of forelimb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While much of the skeleton was intact—including the pelvis, trunk, forelimbs and part of the hindlimbs—the skull was not included. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025 The animal's mummified remains, which include its head, forelimbs and part of its chest, were found well-preserved in Yakutia, Russia, in 2020 and determined to belong to a cub around 3 weeks old, per the study. Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024 Most of the body and part of the tail are visible in the fossil, in addition to the eyes, nerves, and a forelimb. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2024 Her injuries were consistent with those found in modern humans who reach their hands out toward the ground to break a fall: greenstick fractures across both forelimb bones, the radius and the ulna. Carly Miller, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for forelimb

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forelimb was circa 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Forelimb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forelimb. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

forelimb

noun
fore·​limb -ˌlim How to pronounce forelimb (audio)
: an arm, fin, wing, or leg that is one of a front pair of limbs or corresponds to one

Medical Definition

forelimb

noun
fore·​limb -ˌlim How to pronounce forelimb (audio)
: a limb (as an arm, fin, wing, or leg) that is situated anteriorly

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