noun | verb
armarm1 /ɑrm/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1
BODY one of the two long parts of your body between your shoulders and your hands: Dana broke her left arm. He had a pile of books in his arms. Pat was carrying a large box under his arm. My mother put her arms around me. a couple walking on the beach arm in arm (=with their arms bent around each other’s) She took him by the arm (=led him by holding his arm) and pushed him out of the door. Jerry took Barbara in his arms (=held her gently) and kissed her.cross/fold your arms (=bend your arms so that they are resting on top of each other against your body, especially as a sign that you are angry)2FURNITURE the part of a chair, sofa, etc. that you rest your arms on: the arm of the couch3CLOTHING the part of a piece of clothing that covers your arm SYN sleeve4WEAPONS arms [plural] weapons used for fighting wars SYN weapons: sales of arms to terrorists nuclear arms the arms trade Boys as young as 13 are taking up arms (=getting weapons and fighting) to defend the city. He appealed for the rebels to lay down their arms (=stop fighting). → see also small arms5be up in arms if a group of people is up in arms, they are angry and ready to argue: Residents are up in arms about plans for a new road along the beach.6with open arms if you do something with open arms, you show that you are happy to see someone or eager to accept something or someone: My new in-laws welcomed me with open arms.7somebody would give his/her right arm to do something used to say that someone would be willing to do anything to get or do something: I would give my right arm to meet Bono.8at arm’s length if you hold something at arm’s length, you hold it away from your body9keep/hold somebody at arm’s length to avoid developing a relationship with someone: She had always kept men at arm’s length to avoid getting hurt.10PART OF GROUP a part of a large group that is responsible for a particular type of activity: the U.S. marketing arm of a Japanese company11OBJECT/MACHINE a long part of an object or piece of equipment: A 15-foot arm supports the antenna.12as long as your arm informal a list or written document that is as long as your arm is very long13on your arm old-fashioned if a man has a woman on his arm, she is walking beside him holding his arm14DESIGN 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. SYN coat of arms[Origin: (1, 3, 4, 6-13) Old English earm] → see also arms akimbo at akimbo, brothers in arms at brother1 (6), cost an arm and a leg at cost2 (5), fold somebody in your arms at fold1 (7), a shot in the arm at shot1 (13), twist somebody’s arm at twist1 (10) noun | verb
armarm2 verb [transitive] 1to provide weapons for yourself, an army, a country, etc. in order to prepare for a fight or a war: arm somebody with something Local farmers have armed themselves with rifles and pistols. → see also armed, unarmed2to provide all the information, power, etc. that are needed to deal with a difficult situation or argument: arm somebody with something Arm yourself with all the documents you have to show you qualify for a loan. [Origin: 1200–1300 Old French armer, from Latin armare, from arma]