Elbow is a word with several related meanings. It can refer to the jointThe place where two bones meet and allow movement. in your arm, a bendA curve or turn in a pipe, road, or other line. in a pipe or road, or the act of pushingUsing force to move someone or something away with your body. someone with your elbow. The most common everyday meaning is the arm joint.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɛlˌboʊ/
Easy pronunciation: EL-boh (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Noun meaning the hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Elbow Meaning
the joint in the middle of your arm
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm
Example: She rested her elbows on the table.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- elbow joint — Direct synonym for the body joint.
- cubital joint — Technical term for the elbow joint.
- articulatio cubiti — Latin anatomical term for the elbow joint.
- human elbow — Works as a descriptive phrase, though it is not a perfect everyday synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Elbow
Meaning 2
the matching joint in an animal’s leg or wing
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow
Example: The vet checked the horse's elbow for swelling.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cubitus — Anatomical term for this joint in animals as well as humans.
- cubital joint — Can refer to the corresponding joint in animals.
- articulatio cubiti — Latin anatomical term; used in formal anatomy.
Meaning 3
the area of a sleeve over the elbow
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint
Example: The elbows of his jacket were worn through.
Meaning 4
a bent pipe fitting
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a length of pipe with a sharp bend in it
Example: He replaced the damaged pipe elbow.
Meaning 5
a tight bend in a road or river
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sharp bend in a road or river
Example: The river makes a sharp elbow just past the bridge.
Meaning 6
force your way through a crowd using your elbows
Part of speech: verb
Definition: push one's way with the elbows
Example: We had to elbow through the crowd to get to the front.
Meaning 7
jab someone in the ribs with an elbow
Part of speech: verb
Definition: shove one's elbow into another person's ribs
Example: He elbowed me in the ribs by accident.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Elbow Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- elbow joint
- cubital joint
animal joint corresponding to the human elbow
- cubitus
- cubital joint
- articulatio cubiti
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use elbow as a synonym for any bend or joint in every context; the meaning changes by sense.
- The verb elbow can mean either to push past people or to strike with the elbow, so these should not be mixed together.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does elbow mean?
Elbow most commonly means the joint in the middle of your arm. It can also mean a bend in a pipe or road, the elbow area of a sleeve, or the act of pushing with your elbow.
What are elbow synonyms?
For the body joint, elbow joint is the clearest synonym. Technical forms include cubital joint and articulatio cubiti. Other senses of elbow have different or no true synonyms in the supplied data.
What is the definition of elbow?
Elbow has several meanings, but the main one is the joint between the forearm and upper arm.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.