upper limb
IPA/ˌʌpə lˈɪm/
IPA/ˌʌpɚ lˈɪm/
upper limb — noun
1. the whole arm, from the shoulder to the hand, including the wrist.
1.nounC1
Definition
the whole arm, from the shoulder to the hand, including the wrist.
Example
After the fall, Yuna's upper limb was checked for broken bones.
be checked for broken bones
A tight bandage kept Noa's injured upper limb still during the ride home.
During therapy, Camila slowly lifted her upper limb above shoulder height.
The scan showed nerve damage along Emre's entire upper limb.
After surgery, Jude wore a sling to support the upper limb.
support the upper limb with a sling
Common collocations
- injured upper limb
- upper limb damage
- support the upper limb
Synonyms
- arm
the everyday word for this body part; less technical and sometimes used less precisely
Grammar Patterns
injury to the upper limb
support the upper limb with a sling
Usage Note
More formal than arm and used especially in medical or anatomical descriptions. In everyday speech, people usually just say arm.
Common Mistakes
The pain spread through his upper arm, including his hand.
The pain spread through his upper limb.
'upper arm' only means the part between the shoulder and elbow, but 'upper limb' includes the wrist and hand.