leg

We all know a leg is the body part that helps you walk, run, jump, and kick. But "leg" is not just about the body. It can also mean the supporting part of something, like the leg of a table or chair. If you are talking about travel, a "leg" is one part of a trip, such as one flight in a longer journey. It can also mean the part of pants that covers each limb. For example, "The final leg of our road trip was through the mountains."

Think of a three-legged stool: each part holds up the seat. Or imagine a long trip: each leg takes you closer to where you want to go. You might even say someone has "a leg to stand on" if they have a good reason for what they are saying.

The word "leg" most commonly refers to one of the limbs that support and move a person or animal. From sprinting in a race to simply standing still, legs are essential for much of daily life. You might describe someone as having "long legs" or being "all legs," meaning they are tall and slender.

But "leg" reaches beyond the body. It can refer to the supporting part of an object, such as a table leg or a chair leg. It can also mean the long part of a pair of pants that covers each limb. In each case, the idea is similar: a long part that supports, covers, or extends downward.

The word is also often used for one stage of a journey or event. A road trip or a flight can be broken into legs, with each one being a separate part of the whole route. This idea also appears in sports, such as a leg of a relay race, and in contests played over two legs, where each side plays once at home. In business or news, if a story or project "has legs," it means it may continue for a long time or keep people's interest.

You will also find "leg" in several common idioms. If you are joking with someone, you might be "pulling their leg." If an argument is weak and unsupported, you can say it has "no leg to stand on." Whether you are talking about the limbs that carry us, the supports that hold furniture up, the parts of clothing, or the stages of a journey, "leg" is a simple word with many everyday uses.