arm
arm Lexical Profile
arm Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Each of the two upper limbs of the human body, extending from the shoulder to the hand.
"She carried a heavy stack of textbooks in her arms across the campus."
The part of a shirt, coat, or other garment covering the upper limb, or the raised side of a chair or sofa supporting a person's elbow and forearm.
"He rested his notebook on the wide wooden arm of the reading chair."
Weapons and military equipment collectively, or the heraldic bearings and insignia of a family, city, or institution (typically used in the plural).
"The university's historic coat of arms is carved into the stone archway above the library entrance."
A functional division, branch, or operational sector of a larger organization, institution, or government.
"The charitable foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of the publishing company."
A narrow extension, inlet, or projecting branch of a larger geographical feature, such as a sea, lake, or mountain range.
"A quiet arm of the bay sheltered the fishing boats from the open ocean swells."
• verb
To supply or equip someone with essential tools, knowledge, or defensive gear in preparation for a task or challenge.
"The workshop is designed to arm recent graduates with practical financial literacy skills."
To activate the fuse, sensor, or operating mechanism of an alarm system or device so that it is ready to function.
"Please remember to arm the building's security system before locking the front doors at night."
• Rhymes for arm
Word Origin & Etymology
The anatomical noun derives from Old English earm, from Proto-Germanic *armaz, while the weapon sense and verb come via Old French from Latin arma ('weapons, defensive gear'); both ultimately trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *ar- ('to fit together, join').