arm

¹

[ahrm]

noun

1. the upper limb of the human body, especially the part extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

2. the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.

3. the forelimb of any vertebrate.

4. some part of an organism like or likened to an arm.

5. any armlike part or attachment, as the tone arm of a phonograph.

6. a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment.

   the arm of a coat.

7. an administrative or operational branch of an organization.

   A special arm of the government will investigate.

8. Nautical.,  any of the curved or bent pieces of an anchor, terminating in the flukes.

9. an armrest.

10. an inlet or cove.

    an arm of the sea.

11. a combat branch of the military service, as the infantry, cavalry, or field artillery.

12. power; might; strength; authority.

    the long arm of the law.

    Synonyms: reach

13. support or protection.

    He had always been there when I needed a strong arm to lean on or a word of counsel.

    May you take comfort knowing she is in God's loving arms.

14. Typography.,  either of the extensions to the right of the vertical line of a K or upward from the vertical stem of a Y.

arm

²

[ahrm]

noun

1. Usually arms weapons, especially firearms.

2. Heraldry.,  arms, the escutcheon, with its divisions, charges, and tinctures, and the other components forming an achievement that symbolizes and is reserved for a person, family, or corporate body; armorial bearings; coat of arms.

verb (used without object)

1. to enter into a state of hostility or of readiness for war.

verb (used with object)

1. to equip with weapons.

   to arm the troops.

2. to activate (a fuze) so that it will explode the charge at the time desired.

   Antonyms: disarm, deactivate

3. to cover protectively.

4. to provide with whatever will add strength, force, or security; support; fortify.

   He was armed with statistics and facts.

5. to equip or prepare for any specific purpose or effective use.

   to arm a security system; to arm oneself with persuasive arguments.

   Synonyms: outfit, ready, equip

6. to prepare for action; make fit; ready.

Arm

³

abbreviation

1. Armenian.

ARM

⁴

1. adjustable-rate mortgage.

Arm.

⁵

abbreviation

1. Armenian.

2. Armorican.

arm

¹

/ ɑːm /

noun

1. (in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wrist

2. the part of either of the upper limbs from the elbow to the wrist; forearm

3. 1. the corresponding limb of any other vertebrate

   2. an armlike appendage of some invertebrates

4. an object that covers or supports the human arm, esp the sleeve of a garment or the side of a chair, sofa, etc

5. anything considered to resemble an arm in appearance, position, or function, esp something that branches out from a central support or larger mass

   an arm of the sea

   the arm of a record player

6. an administrative subdivision of an organization

   an arm of the government

7. power; authority

   the arm of the law

8. any of the specialist combatant sections of a military force, such as cavalry, infantry, etc

9. nautical See yardarm

10. sport ball games ability to throw or pitch

    he has a good arm

11. informal,  a large amount of money

12. with arms linked

13. at a distance; away from familiarity with or subjection to another

14. informal,  to be prepared to make any sacrifice

15. sleeping

16. with great warmth and hospitality

    to welcome someone with open arms

verb

1. archaic,  (tr) to walk arm in arm with

arm

²

/ ɑːm /

verb

1. to equip with weapons as a preparation for war

2. to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, protects, or increases efficiency

   he armed himself against the cold

3. 1. to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time

   2. to prepare (an explosive device) for use by introducing a fuse or detonator

4. nautical to pack arming into (a sounding lead)

noun

1. (usually plural) a weapon, esp a firearm

Arm.

³

abbreviation

1. Armenia(n)

ARM

⁴

abbreviation

1. adjustable rate mortgage

Other Word Forms

• armless adjective
• armlike adjective
• armed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arm¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English earm; cognate with Gothic arms, Old Norse armr, Old Frisian erm, Dutch, Old Saxon, Old High German arm ( German Arm ) “arm,” Latin armus “shoulder” and arma (neuter plural) “tools, weapons”; akin to Serbo-Croatian rȁme, rȁmo “shoulder”; Sanskrit īrmá, Avestan arəma-, Old Prussian irmo “arm”; arm ²

Origin of arm²

First recorded in 1200–50 for the verb; 1300–50 for the noun; Middle English verb armen, from Anglo-French, Old French armer, from Latin armāre “to arm, equip,” verbal derivative of arma (neuter plural) “tools, weapons”; Middle English noun armes (plural), from Old French armes, from Latin arma (neuter plural reinterpreted as a feminine singular); akin to arm ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of arm¹

Old English; related to German Arm, Old Norse armr arm, Latin armus shoulder, Greek harmos joint

Origin of arm²

C14: (n) back formation from arms, from Old French armes, from Latin arma; (vb) from Old French armer to equip with arms, from Latin armāre, from arma arms, equipment

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at arm's length, not on familiar or friendly terms; at a distance.

   He's the kind of person you pity but want to keep at arm's length.

2. twist someone's arm, to use force or coercion on someone.

3. with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality.

   a country that receives immigrants with open arms.

4. arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined.

   They walked along arm in arm.

5. put the arm on,

   1. to solicit or borrow money from.

      She put the arm on me for a generous contribution.

   2. to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on.

      If they don't cooperate, put the arm on them.

6. on the arm, free of charge; gratis.

   an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.

7. an arm and a leg, a great deal of money.

   Our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.

8. in the arms of Morpheus, asleep.

   After a strenuous day, he was soon in the arms of Morpheus.

9. bear arms,

   1. to carry weapons.

   2. to serve as a member of the military or of contending forces.

      His religious convictions kept him from bearing arms, but he served as an ambulance driver with the Red Cross.

10. up in arms, ready to take action; indignant; outraged.

    There is no need to get up in arms over such a trifle.

11. under arms, ready for battle; trained and equipped.

    The number of men under arms is no longer the decisive factor in warfare.

12. take up arms, to prepare for war; go to war.

    to take up arms against the enemy.

More idioms and phrases containing arm

• at arm's length
• babe in arms
• forewarned is forearmed
• give one's eyeteeth (right arm)
• long arm of the law
• one-armed bandit
• put the arm on
• shot in the arm
• take up arms
• talk someone's arm off
• twist someone's arm
• up in arms
• with one arm tied behind
• with open arms

Example Sentences

The report, titled "A War of Atrocities" called on the international community to enforce an arms embargo as well as set up an independent judicial process to ensure alleged perpetrators face justice.

From BBC

Defence minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israeli military activity would "intensify" until Hamas accepted Israel's conditions to end the war, threatening that the armed group would be "destroyed" otherwise.

From BBC

My adrenaline and speed carried me under it, and when I caught it on the run, I shook my arm three times in disbelief.

From Los Angeles Times

The armed group in charge of the area put the number at 1,000, however the health ministry says only two bodies have been recovered.

From BBC

He will be back in the team on one of this winter's tours, but I would have liked to have seen an arm around his shoulder this week.

From BBC

Related Words

• fortify 
• load 
• mobilize 
• prepare 
• protect 
• provide 
• strengthen 
• supply