ARMabbr. adjustable-rate mortgage |
arm 1 (ärm)n.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. |
arm 2 (ärm)n.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. armsa. Warfare: a call to arms against the invaders. b. Military service: several million volunteers under arms; the profession of arms. 4. armsa. 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., Middle English armen, from Old French armer, from Latin arm re, from arma.]
armed (ärmd) adj. arm er n. |
arms Noun, pl 1. weapons collectively 2. military exploits: prowess in arms 3. the heraldic symbols of a family or state 4. take up arms to prepare to fight 5. under arms armed and prepared for war 6. up in arms prepared to protest strongly
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | arms - weapons considered collectively armament - weaponry used by military or naval force bomb - an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions hardware - major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile) weapon, weapon system, arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" | | 2. | arms - the official symbols of a family, state, etc.crest - (heraldry) in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet heraldry - emblem indicating the right of a person to bear arms quartering - a coat of arms that occupies one quarter of an escutcheon; combining four coats of arms on one shield usually represented intermarriages heraldry - the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies |
Translations arms [ɑːmz] npl (= weapons) → armas fpl; arms [ɑːmz] npl (= weapons) → armi fpl;
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