arm

[ahrm]

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.

the forelimb of any vertebrate.

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

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

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

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

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

an armrest.

an inlet or cove: an arm of the sea.

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

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

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

Nearby words

Idioms

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Origin of arm

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, Serbo-Croatian rȁme, rȁmo shoulder; akin to Sanskrit īrmá, Avestan arəma-, OPruss irmo arm; not akin to Latin arma arm²

Related formsarmed, adjectivearm·like, adjective

Can be confusedalms arms

arm

[ahrm]

noun

Usually arms. weapons, especially firearms.

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)

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

verb (used with object)

to equip with weapons: to arm the troops.

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

to cover protectively.

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

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

to prepare for action; make fit; ready.

Origin of arm

1200–50 for v.; 1300–50 for noun; (v.) Middle English armen < Anglo-French, Old French armer < Latin armāre to arm, verbal derivative of arma (plural) tools, weapons (not akin to arm¹); (noun) Middle English armes (plural) ≪ Latin arma, as above

SYNONYMS FOR arm

8. outfit.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arm ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR arm

5. deactivate, disarm.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR arm ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsarm·less, adjective

Arm

Armenian.

ARM

adjustable-rate mortgage.

Ar.M.

Master of Architecture.

Origin of Ar.M.

From the New Latin word Architecturae Magister

Arm.

Armenian.

Armorican.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arm

At St. Barnabas Hospital, Pellerano was listed in stable condition with wounds to his chest and arm.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The big slug happened to hit the suspect in the street, passing through his arm and then striking Police Officer Andrew Dossi.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Dossi initially was listed in critical condition with wounds to his arm and lower back.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She is wearing a crop top, and Andrew has his arm wrapped around her waist.
Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’|Tom Sykes|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Women want a hot, young thing to parade around on their arm, too.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex|Aurora Snow|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As she turned away on his arm, her eyes swung round to Davey.
The Pioneers|Katharine Susannah Prichard
He had raised his weapon as the door flew open, but now his arm fell.
Lord Jim|Joseph Conrad
He took the place of Jean Valjean, who, on account of his arm being still in a sling, could not give his hand to the bride.
Les Misrables|Victor Hugo
I do not remember much else about it; indeed, the pain in my arm was so sharp that I had no eyes for physical features.
Ayesha|H. Rider Haggard
Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet place and told him all that had happened since they had last met.
The Crimson Fairy Book|Various

British Dictionary definitions for arm

arm

noun

(in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wristRelated adjective: brachial

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

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

anything considered to resemble an arm in appearance, position, or function, esp something that branches out from a central support or larger massan arm of the sea; the arm of a record player

an administrative subdivision of an organizationan arm of the government

power; authoritythe arm of the law

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

nautical See yardarm

sport, esp ball games ability to throw or pitchhe has a good arm

an arm and a leg informal a large amount of money

arm in arm with arms linked

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

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

in the arms of Morpheus sleeping

with open arms with great warmth and hospitalityto welcome someone with open arms

verb

(tr) archaic to walk arm in arm with

Derived Formsarmless, adjectivearmlike, adjective

Word Origin for arm

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

verb (tr)

to equip with weapons as a preparation for war

to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, protects, or increases efficiencyhe 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

nautical to pack arming into (a sounding lead)

noun

(usually plural) a weapon, esp a firearm

Word Origin for arm

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

ARM

abbreviation for

adjustable rate mortgage

Arm.

abbreviation for

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

Word Origin and History for arm

arm

n.1

"upper limb," Old English earm "arm," from Proto-Germanic *armaz (cf. Old Saxon, Danish, Swedish, Middle Dutch, German arm, Old Norse armr, Old Frisian erm), from PIE root *ar- "fit, join" (cf. Sanskrit irmah "arm," Armenian armukn "elbow," Old Prussian irmo "arm," Greek arthron "a joint," Latin armus "shoulder"). Arm of the sea was in Old English. Arm-twister "powerful persuader" is from 1938. Arm-wrestling is from 1899.

They wenten arme in arme yfere Into the gardyn [Chaucer]

arm

n.2

"weapon," c.1300, armes (plural) "weapons of a warrior," from Old French armes (plural), "arms, war, warfare," mid-13c., from Latin arma "weapons" (including armor), literally "tools, implements (of war)," from PIE root *ar- "fit, join" (see arm (n.1)). The notion seems to be "that which is fitted together." Meaning "heraldic insignia" (in coat of arms, etc.) is early 14c.; originally they were borne on shields of fully armed knights or barons.

"to furnish with weapons," c.1200, from Old French armer or directly from Latin armare, from arma (see arm (n.2)). Related: Armed; arming.

Medicine definitions for arm

arm

[ärm]

n.

An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.

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

arm

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of arm

arm

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of arm

Arm

ARM

Ar.M.

Origin of Ar.M.

Arm.

Examples from the Web for arm

arm

noun

verb

Word Origin for arm

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for arm

ARM

abbreviation for

Arm.

abbreviation for

arm

arm

arm

n.

arm