/ ɑːm; NAmE ɑːrm/ noun , verb
■ noun
—see also arms
PART OF BODY
1.
either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands :
He escaped with only a broken arm.
She threw her arms around his neck.
The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm) .
She touched him gently on the arm.
He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible) .
They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other) .
She cradled the child in her arms .
They fell asleep in each other's arms (= holding each other) .
He was carrying a number of files under his arm (= between his arm and his body) .
He walked in with a tall blonde on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm) .
—picture at body
OF CLOTHING
2.
the part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm
SYN sleeve
OF CHAIR
3.
the part of a chair, etc. on which you rest your arms
—picture at armchair
OF MACHINERY
4.
a long narrow part of an object or a piece of machinery, especially one that moves, for example a record player
—picture at glass
OF WATER / LAND
5.
a long narrow piece of water or land that is joined to a larger area :
A small bridge spans the arm of the river.
OF ORGANIZATION
6.
[ usually sing. ] arm (of sth) a section of a large organization that deals with one particular activity
SYN wing :
the research arm of the company
•
IDIOMS
- cost / pay an arm and a leg
- keep sb at arm's length
—more at akimbo , babe , bear verb , chance verb , fold verb , long adjective , open adjective , right adjective , shot noun , twist verb
■ verb
1.
arm yourself / sb (with sth) to provide weapons for yourself/sb in order to fight a battle or a war :
[ vn ]
The men armed themselves with sticks and stones.
( figurative )
She had armed herself for the meeting with all the latest statistics.
[ v ]
The country was arming against the enemy.
—see also armed
2.
[ vn ] to make a bomb, etc. ready to explode
—compare disarm
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun Old English arm , earm , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arm and German Arm .
verb Middle English : from Old French armer (verb), from Latin armare , from arma armour, arms.