arm

I UK [ɑː(r)m] / US [ɑrm] noun [countable]
Word forms "arm":
singular arm plural arms
***

1)

a) one of the two long parts of your body with your hands at the end

I put my arm around his shoulders.

in someone's arms:

She was holding the baby in her arms.

under someone's arm (= between the arm and the side of the body):

Jim was carrying a parcel under his arm.

into someone's arms:

The children threw themselves into their grandmother's arms.

fold/cross your arms (= put one arm on top of the other):

She folded her arms across her chest.

take someone in your arms:

He took her in his arms and kissed her.

b) the part of a piece of clothing that your arm fits into

2) part of a chair that you rest your arm on when you are sitting in it

3) a long thin part of an object that sticks out from the main part

The crane's huge metal arm lifted the load into the air.

4) a part of an organization that deals with a particular subject or activity

the retailing arm of the business

an arm of the Justice Department

•

- an arm and a leg

- arm in arm

- at arm's length

See:

arms, long I, open I, right II

II UK [ɑː(r)m] / US [ɑrm] verb [transitive]
Word forms "arm":
present tense I/you/we/they arm he/she/it arms present participle arming past tense armed past participle armed
**

1) to provide yourself or other people with weapons

No government should be arming terrorists.

arm someone with something:

They quickly armed themselves with sticks.

2) to provide yourself or other people with useful or impressive equipment, information etc

arm someone with something:

I'll need to arm myself with all the facts before meeting them formally.