/ahr"meuh cheuhr/ , n.
1. armor.
2. Biol. the protective covering of an animal or plant, or any part serving for defense or offense.
3. Elect.
a. the part of an electric machine that includes the main current-carrying winding and in which the electromotive force is induced.
b. the pivoted part of an electric device, as a buzzer or relay, that is activated by a magnetic field.
c. the iron or steel applied across the poles of a permanent magnet to close it, or across the poles of an electromagnet to transmit a mechanical force. See illus. under electromagnet .
4. Sculpture. a skeletal framework built as a support on which a clay, wax, or plaster figure is constructed.
[ 1535-45; ( armatura an outfit, armor, equiv. to armat ( us ) equipped (see ARM 2 , -ATE 1 ) + -ura -URE ]