arm

[ ahrm ]

/ ɑrm /

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

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

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (1 of 3)

arm

/ (ɑːm) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (2 of 3)

arm

/ (ɑːm) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (3 of 3)

ARM

abbreviation for

adjustable rate mortgage

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 in arm (1 of 3)

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]

Word Origin and History for arm in arm (1 of 3)

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.

Word Origin and History for arm in arm (2 of 3)

arm

"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 in arm

arm

[ ärm ]

n.

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

Idioms and Phrases with arm in arm (1 of 2)

arm in arm

With one person's arm linked around another's; also, closely allied or intimate, as in Both couples walked arm in arm around the grounds of the estate, and This candidate is arm in arm with the party's liberal wing. The literal expression dates from the late 1300s, when Chaucer so used it: “They went arm in arm together into the garden” (Troilus and Cressida). The figurative usage dates from about 1600. Also see hand in hand.

Idioms and Phrases with arm in arm (2 of 2)

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

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (1 of 3)

arm

noun

verb

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (2 of 3)

arm

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm in arm (3 of 3)

ARM

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for arm in arm (1 of 3)

arm

Word Origin and History for arm in arm (1 of 3)

arm

Word Origin and History for arm in arm (2 of 3)

arm

Medicine definitions for arm in arm

arm

n.

Idioms and Phrases with arm in arm (1 of 2)

arm in arm

Idioms and Phrases with arm in arm (2 of 2)

arm