arm

[ ahrm ]

/ ɑrm /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arm ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

arlington, arlington heights, arlington national cemetery, arliss, arlon, arm, arm and a leg, arm candy, arm in arm, arm's-length, arm-twist

Idioms

bear arms,

to carry weapons.
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.

take up arms, to prepare for war; go to war: to take up arms against the enemy.

under arms, ready for battle; trained and equipped: The number of men under arms is no longer the decisive factor in warfare.

up in arms, ready to take action; indignant; outraged: There is no need to get up in arms over such a trifle.

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 forms

arm·less, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for arming

Panetta is on shakier ground on the question of arming Syrian moderates.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief|Jonathan Alter|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if Obama and Biden were sensible about not arming Syrian moderates, the same cannot be said for their policy toward Iraq.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief|Jonathan Alter|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also, Clinton and many lawmakers acknowledge that arming the rebels was risky and might not have worked.
Exclusive: Obama Told Lawmakers Criticism of His Syria Policy is 'Horsesh*t'|Josh Rogin|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The fear of spillage was one of the reasons the administration held off arming Syrian rebels before.
U.S. on Alert for Al Qaeda Attack as Group Battles ISIS for Top Terrorist|Jamie Dettmer|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

While the FBR does not provide guns to its members, neither does the group forbid them from arming themselves.
Myanmar’s Free Burma Rangers Are Like Doctors Without Borders…With Guns|James Griffiths|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A hurried council was held, and a good deal of distracting advice given while the young braves were arming themselves.
The Walrus Hunters|R.M. Ballantyne
Let him surreptitiously steal his fowling-piece over the frontier, and we are accused of "arming the disaffected population."
The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II)|Charles James Lever
They would be for arming bands of men to overturn the government.
The Broncho Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers|Frank Fowler
As they were going ashore, a lump of the tallow used for arming the lead was given to them, and received with particular delight.
Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836|Robert FitzRoy
As the Duke was arming an incident occurred but for which Battle Abbey might never have been built.
Highways & Byways in Sussex|E.V. Lucas

British Dictionary definitions for arming (1 of 4)

arming

/ (ˈɑːmɪŋ) /

noun

the act of taking arms or providing with arms

nautical a greasy substance, such as tallow, packed into the recess at the bottom of a sounding lead to pick up samples of sand, gravel, etc, from the bottom

British Dictionary definitions for arming (2 of 4)

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 Forms

armless, 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 arming (3 of 4)

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 arming (4 of 4)

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

Medicine definitions for arming

arm

[ ärm ]

n.

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

Idioms and Phrases with arming

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