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arm1

Syllabification: (arm)
Pronunciation: /ärm/
Translate arm | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of arm

noun

  • 1each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand:she held the baby in her arms
  • (in technical use) each of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the elbow.
  • each of the forelimbs of an animal.
  • a flexible limb of an invertebrate animal, e.g., an octopus.
  • a sleeve of a garment.
  • an ability to throw a ball skillfully:he has a good arm
  • an athlete with an ability to throw a ball skillfully:he wasn’t the best arm in the outfield, but his performance at the plate more than compensated
  • used to refer to the holding of a person’s arm in support or companionship:as they walked he offered her his arm he arrived with a pretty girl on his arm
  • used to refer to something perceived as powerful or protective:the comforting arms of the church
  • 2a thing resembling an arm in form or function, in particular.
  • a side part of a chair or other seat on which a sitter’s arm can rest.
  • a narrow strip of water or land projecting from a larger body.
  • a large branch of a tree.
  • a long, narrow shape or object:a long arm of sunshine
  • 3a branch or division of a company or organization:the political arm of the separatist group
  • one of the types of troops of which an army is composed, such as infantry or artillery.
    [also understood as a figurative use of arm2]
  • 4 Mathematics each of the lines enclosing an angle.

Phrases

arm in arm

(of two or more people) with arms linked.

the long arm of the law

used to refer to the criminal justice system as far-reaching:act now before the long arm of the law catches up with you

as long as one's (or someone's) arm

informal very long:I have a list of vices as long as your arm

at arm's length

away from the body, with the arm fully extended:I held the telephone at arm’s length

cost an arm and a leg

informal be extremely expensive.

get one's arms around

informal fully understand an issue or situation:doctors are having difficulty getting their arms around these new findings

give one's right arm

informal used to convey a strong desire to have or do something:I’d give my right arm to go with them

into the arms of

into the possession or control of:the violin passed into the arms of a wealthy dilettante

keep someone/something at arm's length

avoid intimacy or close contact with someone or something.

put the arm on

North American informal attempt to force or coerce (someone) to do something:she started putting the arm on them for donations

under one's arm

between one’s arm and one’s body:Barbara tucked the papers under her arm

with open arms

with great affection or enthusiasm:schools have welcomed such arrangements with open arms

within arm's reach

near enough to reach by extending one’s arm.

Derivatives

armful

Pronunciation: /-ˌfo͝ol/
noun (plural armfuls)

armless

adjective

Origin:

Old English arm, earm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arm and German Arm

arm in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of arm in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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