arm

arm¹ (ärm)

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

2. A part similar to a human arm, such as the forelimb of an animal or a long part projecting from a central support in a machine.

3. Something, such as a sleeve on a garment or a support on a chair, that is designed to cover or support the human arm.

4. A relatively narrow extension jutting out from a large mass: an arm of the sea. See Synonyms at branch.

5. An administrative or functional branch, as of an organization.

6. Power or authority: the long arm of the law.

7. Sports The skill of throwing or pitching a ball well.

Idioms:

an arm and a leg Slang

An excessively high price: a cruise that cost an arm and a leg.

arm in arm

With arms linked together: They walked across the beach arm in arm.

at arm's length

At such a distance that physical or social contact is discouraged: kept the newcomer at arm's length at first.

with open arms

With great cordiality and hospitality.

[Middle English, from Old English earm; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]

armed (ärmd) adj.

arm² (ärm)

1. A weapon, especially a firearm: troops bearing arms; ICBMs, bombs, and other nuclear arms.

2. A branch of a military force: infantry, armor, and other combat arms.

3. arms

a. Warfare: a call to arms against the invaders.

b. Military service: several million volunteers under arms; the profession of arms.

4. arms

a. Heraldry Bearings.

b. Insignia, as of a state, an official, a family, or an organization.

v. armed, arm·ing, arms

v.intr.

1. To supply or equip oneself with weaponry.

2. To prepare oneself for warfare or conflict.

v.tr.

1. To equip with weapons: armed themselves with loaded pistols; arm a missile with a warhead; arm a nation for war.

2. To equip with what is needed for effective action: tax advisers who were armed with the latest forms.

3. To provide with something that strengthens or protects: a space reentry vehicle that was armed with a ceramic shield.

4. To prepare (a weapon) for use or operation, as by releasing a safety device.

Idiom:

up in arms

Extremely upset; indignant.

[From Middle English armes, weapons, from Old French, pl. of arme, weapon, from Latin arma, weapons; see ar- in Indo-European roots. V., from Middle English armen, from Old French armer, from Latin armre, from arma.]

armed (ärmd) adj.

armer n.

arm ¹

Noun

1. (in humans, apes, and monkeys) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wrist

2. the sleeve of a garment

3. the side of a chair on which one's arm can rest

4. a subdivision or section of an organization: the London-based arm of a Swiss bank

5. something resembling an arm in appearance or function: the arm of a record player

6. power or authority: the long arm of the law

7. arm in arm with arms linked

8. at arm's length at a distance

9. with open arms with warmth and hospitality [Old English]

arm ²

Verb

1. to supply with weapons

2. to prepare (an explosive device) for use

3. to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, or protects: you will be armed with all the information you will ever need

See also arms [Latin arma arms, equipment]

armed adj

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	arm - a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb human, human being, homo, man - any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage body, organic structure, physical structure - the entire structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being); "he felt as if his whole body were on fire" arteria brachialis, brachial artery - the main artery of the upper arm; a continuation of the axillary artery; bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries at the elbow cephalic vein, vena cephalica - a large vein of the arm that empties into the axillary vein limb - one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper forearm - the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist hand, manus, mitt, paw - the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt" cubital nerve, nervus ulnaris, ulnar nerve - a nerve running along the inner side of the arm and passing near the elbow; supplies intrinsic muscles of the hand and the skin of the medial side of the hand biceps brachii, biceps humeri, musculus biceps brachii - a muscle that flexes and supinates the forearm musculus triceps brachii, triceps brachii - the skeletal muscle having three origins that extends the forearm when it contracts articulatio cubiti, cubital joint, cubitus, elbow, elbow joint, human elbow - hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped articulatio radiocarpea, carpus, radiocarpal joint, wrist, wrist joint - a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones arm bone - a bone in the arm humerus - bone extending from the shoulder to the elbow
	2.	arm - any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer" branch, limb projection - any structure that branches out from a central support
	3.	arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" weapon, weapon system bow - a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow bow and arrow - a weapon consisting of arrows and the bow to shoot them brass knuckles, brass knucks, knuckle duster, knuckles, knucks - a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand fire ship - a weapon consisting of a ship carrying explosives that is set adrift to destroy enemy ships flamethrower - a weapon that squirts ignited fuel for several yards gun - a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel) instrument - a device that requires skill for proper use knife - a weapon with a handle and blade with a sharp point light arm - a rifle or pistol missile - a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control pike - medieval weapon consisting of a spearhead attached to a long pole or pikestaff; superseded by the bayonet projectile, missile - a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled slasher - a weapon (a sword or dagger) used for slashing sling - a simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then released lance, spear, shaft - a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon stun baton, stun gun - a weapon designed to disable a victim temporarily by delivering a nonlethal high-voltage electric shock sword, steel, blade, brand - a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard hatchet, tomahawk - weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians W.M.D., weapon of mass destruction, WMD - a weapon that kills or injures civilian as well as military personnel (nuclear and chemical and biological weapons) arms, implements of war, munition, weaponry, weapons system - weapons considered collectively Greek fire - a mixture used by Byzantine Greeks that was often shot at adversaries; catches fire when wetted
	4.	arm - the part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person armchair - chair with a support on each side for arms armrest - a support for the arm writing arm - an arm of a tablet-armed chair; widened to provide a writing surface
	5.	arm - a division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"; "botany is a branch of biology"; "the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages" branch, subdivision local post office, post office - a local branch where postal services are available" division - an administrative unit in government or business executive branch, Executive Office of the President - the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws legislative branch - the branch of the United States government that has the power of legislating judicial branch - the branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice
	6.	arm - the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm sleeve cloth covering - a covering made of cloth cuff, turnup - the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg dolman sleeve - a sleeve with a large armhole and tight cuff elbow - the part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint; "his coat had patches over the elbows" garment - an article of clothing; "garments of the finest silk" long sleeve - a sleeve extending from shoulder to wrist raglan sleeve - a sleeve that extends in one piece to the neckline of a coat or sweater with seams from the armhole to the neck shirtsleeve - the sleeve of a shirt short sleeve - a sleeve extending from the shoulder to the elbow wristband - band consisting of a part of a sleeve that covers the wrist
Verb	1.	arm - prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border" gird, build up, fortify re-arm, rearm - arm anew; "After the war, the defeated country was not allowed to rearm" forearm - arm in advance of a confrontation disarm, demilitarise, demilitarize - remove offensive capability from
	2.	arm - supply with arms; "The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan" furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater" munition - supply with weapons rearm - arm again; "After the war, the defeated country was not rearmed by the victors"