arms

British  

/ ɑːmz /

plural noun

1. weapons collectively See also small arms

2. military exploits

   prowess in arms

3. the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia

4. 1. to carry weapons

   2. to serve in the armed forces

   3. to have a coat of arms

5. armed and prepared for war

6. to stop fighting; surrender

7. military

   1. a position of salute in which the rifle is brought up to a position vertically in line with the body, muzzle uppermost and trigger guard to the fore

   2. the command for this drill

8. to prepare to fight

9. arm yourselves!

10. indignant; prepared to protest strongly

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Etymology

Origin of arms

C13: from Old French armes, from Latin arma; see _arm ²

Example Sentences

He stamps his feet, whirls his arms and screams at whichever referee is unlucky enough to be within earshot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In midair she manages to turn herself 180 degrees before being caught by her partner, despite her momentum seeming to drift into his arms like a feather blown by a breeze.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

On holing his final putt, Woodland, 41, spread his arms wide and looked to the skies, before tears flowed as he embraced his wife Gabby.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Kamyshin said that in his visits to arms factories he had seen "Ukrainian women working equally with men often enough".

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

He threw his arms out to catch himself, knocking the monocle from his eye.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman