arms
Britishplural noun
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weapons collectively See also small arms
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military exploits
prowess in arms
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the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia
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to carry weapons
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to serve in the armed forces
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to have a coat of arms
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armed and prepared for war
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to stop fighting; surrender
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military
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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
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the command for this drill
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to prepare to fight
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arm yourselves!
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indignant; prepared to protest strongly
Etymology
Origin of arms
C13: from Old French armes, from Latin arma; see arm ²
Explanation
Arms are weapons. If a rebel group starts acquiring arms, it becomes a clear threat to its opponents. If you hear references on the news to "the arms race" or "arms exports," you know the subject is guns, bombs, bullets, and other weapons and ammunition. Any country with an army has some quantity of arms that can be used for self defense or military actions. In 1300, it was armes, "weapons of a warrior," from the Latin arma, "weapons," and also "tools of war."
Vocabulary lists containing arms
Unit 7, Week 1
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Vocabulary from Readings 3, Unit 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Travolta’s perspective on life and death seems collective, almost optimistic, as if dying is merely a long-haul journey between this existence and the next, with everyone he’s loved and lost waiting there with open arms.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
The beige and blue mosaic of a prancing bull surrounded by a coat of arms is meant to represent the city of Turin, which was the first capital of Italy.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
“Tech CEOs face a strange environment where they are forced into a massive AI arms race,” according to Muir.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
“This litany of harms is driven by Defendants’ insatiable quest to win the AI arms race and amass large fortunes, despite knowing the danger of ChatGPT,” the suit says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Clare did the paddling, his arms being longer, as beside him, Gingersnipes basked in the sunlight, paws clasped behind her head.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
