arm
/ɑ:m/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The upper limb of the human body: The part of the body extending from the shoulder to the wrist, or sometimes including the hand.
- A part resembling an arm: Any long, projecting part of a structure or object that resembles a human arm in shape or function.
- A branch or division: A section or subsidiary part of a larger organization, system, or body of water.
- A sleeve: The part of a garment that covers the arm.
- A weapon: (Usually plural, arms) Instruments or devices used for fighting or defense.
- A support: The part of a chair or sofa where one rests an arm.
Verb:
- To supply with weapons: To provide someone or something with arms (weapons) for combat or defense.
- To prepare for conflict: To make ready for a fight or confrontation, either literally or figuratively.
Examples of Usage
Noun (Body Part):
- She broke her arm in the accident.
- He carried the box in his arms.
Noun (Branch/Division):
- The judicial arm of the government is independent.
- The company has an international arm based in Europe.
Noun (Sleeve):
- The arm of his jacket was torn.
Noun (Weapon - plural):
- The treaty aimed to limit the sale of arms.
- The soldiers laid down their arms.
Verb:
- The rebels were armed with rifles.
- The country armed itself for a potential invasion.
Advanced Usage
"To arm oneself with": To prepare or equip oneself with something, often knowledge or an intangible quality.
- She armed herself with facts before the debate.
"At arm's length": To keep someone or something at a distance, either physically or in terms of a relationship.
- He keeps his business partners at arm's length.
"Up in arms": Angry and protesting vigorously about something.
- Residents were up in arms over the proposed tax increase.
"The long arm of the law": The far-reaching power or influence of legal authorities.
- He couldn't escape the long arm of the law.
Variants and Related Words
- Armed (adj): Equipped with weapons; or, involving the use of weapons (e.g., ).
- Armful (n): As much as one's arms can hold.
- Armlet (n): A band worn around the arm.
- Armory (n): A place where weapons are stored.
- Disarm (v): To take weapons away from; to reduce or eliminate hostility.
Synonyms
- Limb (n): For the body part.
- Branch (n): For a division.
- Weapon (n): For arms (plural).
- Equip (v): For the verb meaning to supply.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Arm against: To provide weapons or preparation as a defense against something.
- We must arm ourselves against future threats.
Related Idioms
Cost an arm and a leg: To be extremely expensive.
- That car must have cost an arm and a leg.
Twist someone's arm: To persuade someone forcefully to do something.
- I didn't want to go, but he twisted my arm.
With open arms: In a very warm and welcoming way.
- They welcomed the refugees with open arms.
Verb
- supply with arms
- The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan
- prepare oneself for a military confrontation
- The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East
- troops are building up on the Iraqi border
Noun
- the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
- a division of some larger or more complex organization
- a branch of Congress
- botany is a branch of biology
- the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages
- the part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person
- any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
- he was licensed to carry a weapon
- any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm
- the arm of the record player
- an arm of the sea
- a branch of the sewer
- a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb