arm

1
[ ahrm ]
See synonyms for arm on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. the forelimb of any vertebrate.

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

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

  4. a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment: the arm of a coat.

  5. an administrative or operational branch of an organization: A special arm of the government will investigate.

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

  7. an armrest.

  8. an inlet or cove: an arm of the sea.

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

  10. power; might; strength; authority: the long arm of the law.

  11. 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.

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

Idioms about arm

  1. an arm and a leg, a great deal of money: Our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.

  2. arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined: They walked along arm in arm.

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

  3. on the arm, Slang. free of charge; gratis: an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.

  4. put the arm on, Slang.

    • to solicit or borrow money from: She put the arm on me for a generous contribution.

    • to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on: If they don't cooperate, put the arm on them.

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

  6. with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality: a country that receives immigrants with open arms.

Origin of arm

1
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”; see arm2

Other words for arm

Other words from arm

  • armed, adjective
  • armlike, adjective

Words that may be confused with arm

Words Nearby arm

Other definitions for arm (2 of 6)

arm2
[ ahrm ]

noun
  1. Usually arms . weapons, especially firearms.

  2. arms, Heraldry. 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.

  1. to cover protectively.

  2. to provide with whatever will add strength, force, or security; support; fortify: He was armed with statistics and facts.

  3. to equip or prepare for any specific purpose or effective use: to arm a security system; to arm oneself with persuasive arguments.

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

Origin of arm

2
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 arm1

Other words for arm

Opposites for arm

Other words from arm

  • armless, adjective

Other definitions for Arm (3 of 6)

Arm

abbreviation

Other definitions for ARM (4 of 6)

ARM

  1. adjustable-rate mortgage.

Other definitions for Arm. (5 of 6)

Arm.

abbreviation
  1. Armenian.

  2. Armorican.

Other definitions for Ar.M. (6 of 6)

Ar.M.

abbreviation
  1. Master of Architecture.

Origin of Ar.M.

6
From New Latin Architecturae Magister

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use arm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arm (1 of 4)

arm1

/ (ɑːm) /


noun
  1. (in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wrist: Related adjective: brachial

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

    • the corresponding limb of any other vertebrate

    • an armlike appendage of some invertebrates

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

  2. 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

  3. an administrative subdivision of an organization: an arm of the government

  4. power; authority: the arm of the law

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

  6. nautical See yardarm

  7. sport, esp ball games ability to throw or pitch: he has a good arm

  8. an arm and a leg informal a large amount of money

  9. arm in arm with arms linked

  10. at arm's length at a distance; away from familiarity with or subjection to another

  11. give one's right arm informal to be prepared to make any sacrifice

  12. in the arms of Morpheus sleeping

  13. with open arms with great warmth and hospitality: to welcome someone with open arms

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

Origin of arm

1
Old English; related to German Arm, Old Norse armr arm, Latin armus shoulder, Greek harmos joint

Derived forms of arm

  • armless, adjective
  • armlike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for arm (2 of 4)

arm2

/ (ɑːm) /


verb(tr)
  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

    • to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time

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

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

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

Origin of arm

2
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

British Dictionary definitions for ARM (3 of 4)

ARM

abbreviation for
  1. adjustable rate mortgage

British Dictionary definitions for Arm. (4 of 4)

Arm.

abbreviation for
  1. Armenia(n)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with arm

arm

In addition to the idioms beginning with arm

  • arm and a leg
  • armed to the teeth
  • arm in arm

also see:

  • 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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.