arm
[noun]
Synonyms: upper limb, appendage, limb
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(Especially with weapons)
[verb]
Synonyms: equip, accoutre, array, deck out, furnish, issue with, provide, supply

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Antonyms: disarm
Related Idioms: put in (or into) shape
Related Words: prepare, ready

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. arm¹ S1 W1 /ɑːm $ ɑːrm/ noun [countable]
[Sense 1, 3-4, 6-13: Language: Old English; Origin: earm]
[Sense 2,5,14: Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: armes (plural), from Latin arma]

1. BODY one of the two long parts of your body between your shoulders and your hands:
Dave has a broken arm.
left/right arm
He had a tattoo on his left arm.
Tim’s mother put her arms around him.
Pat was carrying a box under his arm.
He had a pile of books in his arms.
They walked along the beach arm in arm (=with their arms bent around each other’s).
take somebody by the arm (=lead someone somewhere by holding their arm)
She took him by the arm and pushed him out of the door.
take somebody in your arms (=gently hold someone with your arms)
Gerry took Fiona in his arms and kissed her.
cross/fold your arms (=bend your arms so that they are resting on top of each other against your body)
He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.
The old lady rushed to greet him, arms outstretched.

2. WEAPONS arms [plural] weapons used for fighting wars:
Sales of arms to the Middle East have dramatically increased.
nuclear arms
the arms trade
an arms dealer
The government is cutting arms expenditure.
The United Nations will lift its arms embargo against the country.
take up arms (against somebody) (=get weapons and fight)
Boys as young as 13 are taking up arms to defend the city.
He appealed for the rebels to lay down their arms (=stop fighting).
under arms (=with weapons and ready to fight)
All available forces are under arms. ⇒ small arms at small¹(15)

3.
FURNITURE the part of a chair, sofa etc that you rest your arms on

4. CLOTHING the part of a piece of clothing that covers your arm Synonym : sleeve

5. be up in arms to be very angry and ready to argue or fight:
Residents are up in arms about plans for a new road along the beach.

6. with open arms if you do something with open arms, you show that you are happy to see someone or eager to accept an idea, plan etc:
We welcomed Henry’s offer with open arms.
My new in-laws accepted me with open arms.

7. somebody would give their right arm to do something used to say that someone would be willing to do anything to get or do something because they want it very much:
I’d give my right arm to be 21 again.

8. hold something at arm’s length to hold something away from your body

9. keep/hold somebody at arm’s length to avoid developing a relationship with someone:
Petra keeps all men at arm’s length to avoid getting hurt.

10. as long as your arm informal a list or written document that is as long as your arm is very long:
I’ve got a list of things to do as long as your arm.

11. PART OF GROUP a part of a large group that is responsible for a particular type of activity:
the political arm of a terrorist organization
Epson America is the US marketing arm of a Japanese company.

12. OBJECT/MACHINE a long part of an object or piece of equipment:
the arm of a record player
There is a 15-foot arm supporting the antenna.

13. on sb’s arm old-fashioned if a man has a woman on his arm, she is walking beside him holding his arm

14. DESIGN arms [plural] a set of pictures or patterns, usually painted on a shield, that is used as the special sign of a family, town, university etc Synonym : coat of arms
⇒ arms akimbo at akimbo(1), ⇒ babe in arms at babe(1), ⇒ brothers in arms at brother¹(6), ⇒ cost an arm and a leg at cost²(1), ⇒ fold somebody/something in your arms at fold¹(7), ⇒ twist sb’s arm at twist¹(9)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. arm² verb [transitive]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: armer, from Latin armare, from arma; ⇒ arm¹]

1. to provide weapons for yourself, an army, a country etc in order to prepare for a fight or a war
arm somebody with something
The local farmers have armed themselves with rifles and pistols.
The rebels armed a group of 2,000 men to attack the city. ⇒ armed, unarmed

2. to provide all the information, skills, or equipment you need to do something Synonym : equip
arm somebody with something
Arm yourself with all the facts you need to argue your case.
The guidebook arms the reader with a mass of useful information.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

arm
noun
ADJ. left, right | upper the muscles of the upper arm
strong | good He used his good arm to support his weight.
bad, broken, weak, withered I've got a bad arm so I'm afraid I can't help you.
open (often figurative), outstretched They're sure to welcome you with open arms.
bare
VERB + ARM bend, move | lower, raise The figure in the boat raised an arm.
break, dislocate, hurt, twist | hold out, open, stretch out He held out his arms with a broad smile.
cross, fold She folded her arms and stared at him. | link The couple linked arms and set off along the beach.
wave He was running towards them, waving his arms.
catch (at), catch hold of, grab, take A hand reached out and caught hold of her arm. She moved towards her father and took his arm.
grip, hold, squeeze, touch | fall into They fell into each other's arms.
draw/gather/pull sb into, take sb in He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
hold sb in
ARM + VERB drop | hang His arm hung awkwardly against his side.
tighten Her arms tightened convulsively round the child.
PREP. by the ~ The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm).
in sb's ~ The child lay in its mother's arms.
on the ~ She touched him gently on the arm.
on your ~ Lucy felt the warm sun on her bare arms. He walked in with a tall blonde on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm).
under an/your ~ She carried the dog under one arm.
PHRASES arm in arm They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other), at arm's length He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible).
the crook of an/sb's arm She lay curled up in the crook of his arm.
fling/put/throw, etc. your arms around/round sb/sth He ran towards her and flung his arms around her. He put an arm around her shoulders. | in each other's arms They fell asleep in each other's arms (= holding each other).
with arms akimbo (= with your arms bent and your hands on your hips) She stood looking at him with arms akimbo.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

arm

sb’s left/right arm
She broke her left arm in a riding accident.
broken/fractured
He was taken to hospital with a broken arm.
strong
a muscular man with strong arms
bare (=not covered by clothes)
She wore no stockings and her arms were bare.
wave your arms (=to attract attention)
The man was waving his arms and shouting something.
raise your arm
Stand with your feet apart and your arms raised above your head.
fold/cross your arms (=bend both arms in front of your body)
He folded his arms across his chest and waited.
stretch/hold out your arms
I dreamt I saw my mother again with her arms stretched out towards me.
grab sb’s arm (=take hold of it with a sudden violent movement)
‘Wait’, he cried, grabbing her arm.
put/wrap your arms around somebody
I put my arms around Bobby and gave him a hug.
take/hold somebody in your arms (=gently put your arms around someone you love)
He took her in his arms and kissed her.
take somebody by the arm (=lead someone somewhere holding their arm)
‘It’s this way’ he said, taking me by the arm.
arm in arm (=with your arm linked to someone else’s arm)
There were several young couples, walking arm in arm.
with arms akimbo (=with your hands on your hips so that your elbows point away from your body)
Anna stood with arms akimbo, ready to challenge me.
with outstretched arms
Manuel came forward with outstretched arms to welcome Magda.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

arm
noun
1.
BAD: The plan to reduce the arm forces is strongly opposed.
GOOD: The plan to reduce the armed forces is strongly opposed.

Usage Note:
armed = having one or more weapons: 'Both hijackers are believed to be armed.'
the armed forces = (a country's) army, navy, and air force

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2.
BAD: She wouldn't stop crying until I held her on my arms.
GOOD: She wouldn't stop crying until I held her in my arms.
BAD: I shall never forget the day he died on my arms.
GOOD: I shall never forget the day he died in my arms.

Usage Note:
(hold sb/sth) in your arms (NOT on ): 'He had a great pile of books in his arms.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

arm
̈ɪɑ:m
See: give one's right arm , keep at a distance or keep at arm's length , shot in the arm , take up arms , twist one's arm , up in arms , with open arms , cost an arm and a leg

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

ARM
Adjustable Rate Mortgage 
Always Remember Me 
Anti-Radiation Missile

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲