legging

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A tight piece of clothing that covers one leg, often worn in pairs as leggings.

   Grammar: Countable; the everyday garment is usually plural: 'a pair of leggings'.

   Patterns

   • a pair of leggings
   • wear leggings

   She pulled on a pair of black leggings before her yoga class.

   These leggings stretch well and stay comfortable all day.

   He wore leggings under his trousers to keep warm.

2. 2nouncountablespecialistsport

   A protective covering for the lower leg, worn in sports or as part of armor.

   Grammar: Countable and often plural when talking about a pair worn on both legs.

   Patterns

   • wear leggings
   • protective leggings

   The fencer put on padded leggings before the match.

   Cricket players sometimes wear leggings under their whites.

   The museum displays a knight's metal leggings.

Word forms

Common combinations

a pair of leggings

I bought a pair of leggings for the gym.

black leggings

Black leggings go with almost anything.

wear leggings

She likes to wear leggings in winter.

leather leggings

Leather leggings were popular in the 1980s.

stretch leggings

These stretch leggings fit like a second skin.

Synonyms and how they differ

tights

'Tights' usually cover the feet as well, while leggings stop at the ankle.

leggings

The usual plural form for the garment; 'legging' alone often means one leg piece.

jeggings

'Jeggings' are leggings made to look like tight jeans, so they are a narrower type.

Word family

leggings noun

The plural form, used for the garment worn on both legs.

leggy adjective

Having long legs, used about people or animals.

Commonly confused: legging or leggings? legging or leggin?

Practice

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