forelimb
noun
fore·limb
| \ ˈfȯr-ˌlim
\
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Definition of forelimb
: 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
The experts believe Hesperornithoides would have been covered with feathers, including long feathers on its forelimbs, effectively forming small wings. — John Pickrell, National Geographic, "Meet Lori, a tiny dinosaur that may help explain how birds evolved flight," 10 July 2019 The creatures in the traps are sirens: eel-like salamanders with big feathery gills, pairs of tiny forelimbs and slightly vacant expressions. — Asher Elbein, Washington Post, "An unintended consequence of more fencing at the border? It might make it harder to identify a new salamander species.," 18 June 2019 Our hands came from the forelimbs of land vertebrates, which derived from the pectoral fins of fish. — Frans De Waal, Discover Magazine, "Cheerful Chimps: Are Animals Really Happy When They Smile?," 31 May 2019 The fossil would turn out to include six neck vertebrae, part of the right shoulder blade, and most of the right forelimb. — Brian Switek, Smithsonian, "The Most Massive of Dinos Evolved Earlier Than Previously Thought," 9 July 2018 Or lizards hatched in the last year just have more resources, enabling them to grow longer forelimbs. — Geoffrey Giller, Scientific American, "Island Lizards Shift to Evolutionary Fast-Track after Invasive Goats and Rats Are Eradicated," 30 Apr. 2018 So lizards with longer forelimbs might have survived better over the past year. — Geoffrey Giller, Scientific American, "Island Lizards Shift to Evolutionary Fast-Track after Invasive Goats and Rats Are Eradicated," 30 Apr. 2018 This may have freed the creatures’ strong forelimbs—tipped with sharp claws—for defense, allowing them to swivel to and fro. — Sid Perkins, Science | AAAS, "Ancient human-sloth hunt hinted at in 15,000-year-old footprints," 25 Apr. 2018 For example, Harcourt-Smith notes that bears, whose hind legs do not typically make claw impressions, were present in this region at the time, but the team compared the prints with only a bear’s forelimb. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Hominin Trackways in Greece? The Game Is Afoot," 29 Dec. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forelimb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for forelimb
forelimb
noun
fore·limb
| \ ˈfȯr-ˌlim
\
\
Kids Definition of forelimb
: an arm, fin, wing, or leg that is located toward the front of the body
forelimb
noun
fore·limb
| \ -ËŒlim
\
\
Medical Definition of forelimb
: a limb (as an arm, fin, wing, or leg) that is situated anteriorly