armor

a protective covering; anything that serves as protection

Not to be confused with:

amour – a secret love affair

armoire – a wardrobe or cupboard with doors and shelves

ar·mor

(är′mər)

1. A defensive covering, as of metal, wood, or leather, worn to protect the body against weapons.

2. A tough, protective covering, such as the bony scales covering certain animals or the metallic plates on tanks or warships.

3. A safeguard or protection: faith, the missionary's armor.

a. The combat arm that deploys armored vehicles, such as tanks.

b. The armored vehicles of an army.

tr.v. ar·mored, ar·mor·ing, ar·mors

To cover with armor.

[Middle English armure, from Old French armeure, from Latin armātūra, equipment; see armature.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

armor

(ˈɑːmə)

1. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) the US spelling of armour

2. (Military) the US spelling of armour

3. the US spelling of armour

4. (Nautical Terms) the US spelling of armour

5. (Civil Engineering) the US spelling of armour

6. (Heraldry) the US spelling of armour

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ar•mor

art at Arno

(ˈɑr mər)

n., v. -mored, -mor•ing. n.

1. any covering worn as a defense against weapons.

2. a suit of armor.

3. a protective covering of metal, esp. metal plates, used on warships, armored vehicles, etc.

4. mechanized units of military forces, as armored divisions.

5. Also called armament. any protective covering, as on certain animals, insects, or plants.

6. any quality, characteristic, situation, or thing that serves as protection.

7. the outer, protective wrapping of metal, usu. fine, braided steel wires, on a cable.

v.t.

8. to cover or equip with armor or armor plate.

Also, esp. Brit., ar′mour.

[1250–1300; Middle English armo(u)r, armure < Anglo-French armour(e), Old French armëure < Latin armātūra; see armature]

usage: See -or¹.

armor

Past participle: armored
Gerund: armoring

Imperative
armor
armor

Present
I armor
you armor
he/she/it armors
we armor
you armor
they armor

Preterite
I armored
you armored
he/she/it armored
we armored
you armored
they armored

Present Continuous
I am armoring
you are armoring
he/she/it is armoring
we are armoring
you are armoring
they are armoring

Present Perfect
I have armored
you have armored
he/she/it has armored
we have armored
you have armored
they have armored

Past Continuous
I was armoring
you were armoring
he/she/it was armoring
we were armoring
you were armoring
they were armoring

Past Perfect
I had armored
you had armored
he/she/it had armored
we had armored
you had armored
they had armored

Future
I will armor
you will armor
he/she/it will armor
we will armor
you will armor
they will armor

Future Perfect
I will have armored
you will have armored
he/she/it will have armored
we will have armored
you will have armored
they will have armored

Future Continuous
I will be armoring
you will be armoring
he/she/it will be armoring
we will be armoring
you will be armoring
they will be armoring

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been armoring
you have been armoring
he/she/it has been armoring
we have been armoring
you have been armoring
they have been armoring

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been armoring
you will have been armoring
he/she/it will have been armoring
we will have been armoring
you will have been armoring
they will have been armoring

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been armoring
you had been armoring
he/she/it had been armoring
we had been armoring
you had been armoring
they had been armoring

Conditional
I would armor
you would armor
he/she/it would armor
we would armor
you would armor
they would armor

Past Conditional
I would have armored
you would have armored
he/she/it would have armored
we would have armored
you would have armored
they would have armored

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	armor - protective covering made of metal and used in combat armour body armor, body armour, cataphract, coat of mail, suit of armor, suit of armour - armor that protects the wearer's whole body protective cover, protective covering, protection - a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury; "they had no protection from the fallout"; "wax provided protection for the floors" buckler, shield - armor carried on the arm to intercept blows
	2.	armor - a military unit consisting of armored fighting vehicles armour military force, military group, military unit, force - a unit that is part of some military service; "he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
	3.	armor - tough more-or-less rigid protective covering of an animal or plant armour protective covering - the tough natural covering of some organisms
Verb	1.	armor - equip with armor armour equip, fit out, outfit, fit - provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities"

Translations

دِرْع

brnění

panser

haarniska

oklop

armatura blindare corazza corazzare armamento

甲冑

갑옷

oklep

rustning

เสื้อเกราะ

zırh

áo giáp

盔甲

armour

(American) armor (ˈaːmə) noun

1. formerly, a metal suit worn by knights etc as a protection while fighting. a suit of armour.

2. a metal covering to protect ships, tanks etc against damage from weapons.

ˈarmoured adjective

1. (of vehicles etc) protected by armour. an armoured car.

2. made up of armoured vehicles. an armoured division of an army.

ˈarmoury – plural ˈarmouries – noun

the place where weapons are made or kept.

army (ˈaːmi) – plural ˈarmies – noun

1. a large number of men armed and organized for war. The two armies met at dawn.

2. a large number (of people etc). an army of tourists.

armor

→ دِرْع brnění panser Rüstung πανοπλία armadura haarniska blindage oklop armatura 甲冑 갑옷 wapenuitrusting rustning zbroja armadura броня rustning เสื้อเกราะ zırh áo giáp 盔甲

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Most people are aware of the curious struggle which arose during the Federal war between the guns and armor of iron-plated ships.

View in context

He wore armor because his old guardian bad urged him to do so, and not because he craved the protection it afforded.

So, as Norman of Torn rode down from his mighty castle to visit Father Claude, the sunlight playing on his clanking armor and glancing from the copper boss of his shield, the sight of a little group of woodmen kneeling uncovered by the roadside as he passed was not so remarkable after all.

Entering the priest's study, Norman of Torn removed his armor and lay back moodily upon a bench with his back against a wall and his strong, lithe legs stretched out before him.

Before them on the highroad five knights in armor were now engaged in furious battle with a party of ten or a dozen other steelclad warriors, while crouching breathless on her palfry a young woman sat a little apart from the contestants.

The great black was fleet, and, unencumbered by the usual heavy armor of his rider, soon brought the fugitives to view.

Though handicapped by the weight of his armor the knight also had the advantage of its protection, so that the two fought furiously for several minutes without either gaining an advantage.

For all the din of clashing blades and rattling armor, neither of the contestants had inflicted much damage, for the knight could neither force nor insinuate his point beyond the perfect guard of his unarmored foe, who, for his part, found difficulty in penetrating the other's armor.

Their way to Stutevill lay past the cottage of Father Claude, and here Norman of Torn stopped to don his armor. Now he rode once more with lowered visor, and in silence, a little to the rear of Bertrade de Montfort that he might watch her face, which, of a sudden, had excited his interest.

View in context

He attracted me by three things: his candid simplicity, his marvelous familiarity with ancient armor, and the restfulness of his company -- for he did all the talking.

On the morn Sir Launcelot arose early, and left Sir Kay sleeping; and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay's armor and his shield and armed him, and so he went to the stable and took his horse, and took his leave of his host, and so he departed.

He was in old-time iron armor from head to heel, with a helmet on his head the shape of a nail-keg with slits in it; and he had a shield, and a sword, and a pro- digious spear; and his horse had armor on, too, and a steel horn projecting from his forehead, and gorgeous red and green silk trappings that hung down all around him like a bedquilt, nearly to the ground.

View in context