noun
appendage
uh-PEHN-dihj
noun
1
A part, especially a limb or similar structure, that sticks out from the main body of an animal or plant.
"A crab's claws are appendages used for gripping and defense."
"The insect's long, thin appendages helped it climb smooth surfaces."
2
Something extra attached to a larger, more important thing.
"The garage felt like a clumsy appendage to the original house."
How to Use Appendage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAnything — usually a body part — that hangs or sticks out from a main structure.
Common pairings
a natural appendage
an external appendage
Word Forms
appendages plural
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A crab's claws are _____ used for gripping and defense.
Etymology
From append + the suffix -age, ultimately from Latin appendere, "to hang something onto."