arm
arm — noun
- armsingular
- armsplural
1. one of the two body parts that run from your shoulders to your hands.
one of the two body parts that run from your shoulders to your hands.
Naoko raised her arm to ask a question in class.
raise your arm to ask something
After the fall, Asher could not lift his left arm.
Tuan carried the baby in one arm while opening the gate.
During the drill, Megan waved both arms above her head.
- raise your arm
- break your arm
- take someone by the arm
Grammar Patterns
hurt/break/raise/wave your arm
take someone by the arm
Usage Note
Usually refers to the whole upper limb in everyday English, not only the part between the shoulder and elbow.
Common Mistakes
2. the part of some clothes or seats where your arm goes or rests.
the part of some clothes or seats where your arm goes or rests.
Élise tore the arm of her coat on a sharp nail.
the arm of a coat
Christopher rested his book on the arm of the sofa.
the arm of a sofa
Romi stitched the loose arm of the school jacket tonight.
The cat slept on the wide arm of the old chair.
- arm of a coat
- arm of a chair
- arm of the sofa
Grammar Patterns
the arm of a coat
the arm of a chair/sofa
Usage Note
This sense is used with things shaped for an arm, especially sleeves and the side supports of chairs or sofas.
3. describing two people who move or stand together with linked arms.
describing two people who move or stand together with linked arms.
Naoko and Alessia walked arm in arm after the concert.
walk arm in arm
The two sisters stood arm in arm for the wedding photo.
Rachid entered the hall arm in arm with his grandmother.
- walk arm in arm
- stand arm in arm
Grammar Patterns
walk arm in arm
stand arm in arm
Usage Note
This phrase describes how two people are physically linked while moving or posing together.
4. used for a person who comes with you to a formal event as your close companion o
used for a person who comes with you to a formal event as your close companion or romantic partner.
Ramón arrived at the gala with a film star on his arm.
have someone on your arm
At the opera opening, the mayor appeared with his wife on his arm.
Shanti walked into the ballroom with her new boyfriend on her arm.
- on his arm
- on her arm
Grammar Patterns
have someone on your arm
Usage Note
Usually appears in reports about parties, ceremonies, or public appearances.
5. a long piece on a machine that reaches out, moves, or holds something.
a long piece on a machine that reaches out, moves, or holds something.
The robot arm lifted the glass jars onto the moving belt.
robot arm + lifted [object]
A metal arm swung across the screen to seal each box.
The crane's arm stretched over the road at sunrise.
Engineers replaced the broken arm on the printing machine.
- robot arm
- crane arm
- machine arm
Grammar Patterns
robot arm
crane arm
arm of a machine
Usage Note
Often refers to a part that extends away from the main body of a machine and either moves or supports something.
6. a long narrow part of the sea, a lake, or an area of land that reaches out from
a long narrow part of the sea, a lake, or an area of land that reaches out from the main part.
They sailed into a quiet arm of the lake before sunset.
an arm of the lake
A narrow arm of land protects the village from the waves.
The road follows an arm of the bay toward the harbour.
- arm of the lake
- arm of the bay
- arm of land
Grammar Patterns
an arm of the lake
an arm of land
Usage Note
This sense is mainly used in geography or travel writing for shapes that extend outward from something larger.
7. a branch within a company, government, or similar group that handles one job or
a branch within a company, government, or similar group that handles one job or area.
The charity's education arm opened three libraries last year.
the education arm of + organization
The brand's European arm handles sales from its Paris office.
The research arm of the agency published a warning today.
- education arm
- research arm
- European arm
Grammar Patterns
the research arm of
the Asian arm of
Usage Note
Common in business and news writing for a branch with a special role or region.
8. power in sports to send a ball far or hard with a throw.
power in sports to send a ball far or hard with a throw.
Scouts noticed Tariq's strong arm during batting practice.
strong arm in sports
The coach moved Megan to right field because of her arm.
Commentators praised Christopher's arm after the long throw home.
- strong arm
- good arm
- arm strength
Grammar Patterns
have a strong arm
arm strength in sports
Usage Note
Most often used in baseball and similar sports when judging how powerfully someone can throw.
(with) arms akimbo
idiomstanding with your hands on your hips and your elbows pushed outward.
The teacher stood with arms akimbo and waited for silence.
as long as your arm
idiomextremely long, especially when talking about a list of problems or tasks.
Our weekend repair list was as long as your arm.
a babe in arms
idioma very young baby who is still small enough to be carried.
Leah cannot join the hike because she still has a babe in arms.
bear arms
idiomto carry weapons, especially as a soldier or fighter.
For centuries, only nobles were allowed to bear arms there.
chance your arm
idiomto take a risk even though success seems unlikely.
Tuan chanced his arm and asked the singer for a photo.
to cost or pay an extremely large amount of money.
Those front-row tickets cost an arm and a leg last summer.
fold your arms
idiomto cross your arms in front of your body, often while waiting or showing resistance.
Asher folded his arms and refused to answer the question.
to pull someone close and hold them in a warm embrace.
Megan folded her son in her arms after the final whistle.
to want something so much that you would give up a great deal to get it.
Romi would give her right arm to study in Kyoto for a year.
to avoid becoming too close to someone emotionally or socially.
After the argument, Naoko kept her cousin at arm’s length.
the wide reach and power of an authority or system.
Even in exile, the journalist feared the long arm of the regime.
a shot in the arm
idiomsomething that gives new energy or useful encouragement.
The festival was a shot in the arm for local shops.
twist somebody’s arm
idiomto pressure or persuade someone until they agree.
Nobody had to twist Tariq's arm to join the beach trip.
with open arms
idiomin a very warm, happy, and welcoming way.
The whole village welcomed the nurses with open arms.
arm — verb
- armpresent simple I / you / we / they
- arms3rd person singular
- arming-ing form
- armedpast simple
1. to give yourself or other people weapons so they can fight or protect themselves
to give yourself or other people weapons so they can fight or protect themselves.
The rebels armed themselves before dawn and hid in the hills.
arm yourself with + weapon
Guards armed the convoy after threats against the aid trucks.
The town hurried to arm its police after the prison break.
She refused to arm the group until the agreement was signed.
- arm yourself
- arm the police
- arm the group
Grammar Patterns
arm yourself with + weapon
arm + group/police
Usage Note
Often appears with reflexive forms such as arm yourself, or with groups that are being supplied for conflict.
2. to give yourself or someone the tools, facts, or skills needed for a task.
to give yourself or someone the tools, facts, or skills needed for a task.
Romi armed herself with maps and warm socks for the hike.
arm yourself with + facts/tools
The workshop armed new parents with clear first-aid advice.
Asher armed the sales team with fresh numbers before the meeting.
- arm yourself with facts
- arm the team with data
Grammar Patterns
arm yourself with + facts/tools
arm + team + with + information
Usage Note
This sense is usually followed by with and names useful information, equipment, or skills rather than weapons.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These words all name parts of the upper body, but they point to different areas. 'Arm' is the everyday word for the long body part from the shoulder down to the hand, and in ordinary speech it often includes the whole upper limb. 'Hand' only means the part at the end with the fingers. 'Wrist' is the narrow joint between the hand and the arm. 'Shoulder' is the place where the arm joins the body. 'Limb' is broader and more formal, because it can mean an arm or a leg. Compare: 'She broke her arm,' 'wash your hands,' 'my wrist hurts,' 'he touched my shoulder,' and 'the doctor checked the injured limb.'
Common collocations
Phrases
- arm in arm
- on your arm
- arm yourself with
Etymology
'Arm' comes from Old English 'earm', the everyday word for the upper limb. It belongs to an old Germanic family of words that also appears in languages such as German and Dutch. English later extended the body-part picture to things that stretch out from a main body, which is why we also speak of a robot arm, an arm of the sea, or an arm of an organization.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb