Definition of "limbo" in English

noun

1. (Roman Catholicism, uncountable) A speculation, thought possibly to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people might exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the possible place where each category of souls might exist, regarded separately.

2. Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

   • My passport application has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for two weeks.

3. Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup.

4. Synonym of Hades or Hell.

5. Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”).

6. (countable, military, nautical, weaponry) A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels.

verb

1. (transitive, rare) To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

noun

1. (dance, also attributively) A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down.

verb

1. (dance) To dance the limbo (etymology 2, noun etymology 2, sense 1).

2. (by extension, also figuratively) Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards.