See Also: Member(medicine)
non-member(dictionary)
member(dictionary)
member(2)(dictionary)
member(1)(dictionary)
MEMBER(law)
Non-member firm(finance)
Non-clearing member(finance)
Non-member bank(finance)
private member(dictionary)

member(1) (iou)



member noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French membre from Latin membrum limb.]
A part or organ of the body; esp. a limb or other separable portion. ME.
D. Morris Vultures, who plunge their heads and necks into gory carcasses, have lost their feathers from these members. S. Bellow Leprosyyou lose a toe now and then; none of the main members have to be affected. fig.: Addison The Body of the Law is no less encumbered with superfluous Members.
b. spec. In pl., the genitals; sing. the penis. ME.
J. Heller The first time I laid eyes on Abigail..my member grew hard as hickory.
c. Biology. Any part of a plant or animal viewed with regard to its form and position. L19.
Each of the individuals, countries, etc., belonging to or forming a society or assembly; spec. (a) (usu. Member, more fully Member of Parliament, Member of Congress, etc.) a person who has been formally elected to take part in the proceedings of a parliament; (b) a person admitted to the lowest grade of an order, as the 5th class of the Order of the British Empire. Formerly also, a native or inhabitant (of a country or city). ME.
Thackeray Captain Raff, the honourable member for Epsom. W. S. Churchill Austria was still a member of the German Confederation. C. Ives The action of a mob does not necessarily mean that a majority of its members are stupid. Daily Mirror Members of our swimming club were involved in rescuing three people. R. Guy All the members of the Maldoon family were assembled.
b. ellipt. A member of the community, a person. Now slang & dial. E16.
c. A participant. M16-E17.
d. A black person. US slang. M20.
Each of the constituent portions of a complex structure. LME.
b. Architecture. Each of the parts of a building, each of the mouldings in a collection of mouldings, as in a cornice, capital, base, etc. L17.
A component part or branch of a political body or, formerly, of a trade, art, profession, etc. LME.
A section or district, esp. an outlying part, of an estate, manor, parish, port, etc. LME.
A division or clause of a sentence; a branch of a disjunctive proposition. M16.
Math. A group of figures or symbols forming part of a numerical expression or formula; either of the sides of an equation. E17.
Each of the items forming a series. E18.
Phrases: carnal member arch. = sense 1b above. private member: see PRIVATE adjective. privy member(s) arch. = sense 1b above. secret members: see SECRET adjective & noun. sitting member: see SITTING ppl adjective 4. unofficial member: see UNOFFICIAL adjective 2. unruly member [after James 3:5-8] the tongue. virile member arch. the penis.
Comb.: Esp. in the sense 'that is a member of a society, assembly, (esp.) international organization, etc.', as member country, member society, member State, etc. member bank US a bank which holds shares in, and has representation on the board of directors of, a Federal Reserve Bank.
memberess noun (rare) a female member, spec. a female Member of Parliament M19.
memberless adjective having no member or members E17.