Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quantity that can be contained in the arms: An "armful" is the amount of something that a person can hold or carry in their arms at one time. It implies a loose, often large, bundle that fills the space between the hands and the chest.

Usage

• General Use: Used to describe a quantity of objects, typically loose or bundled, that one carries by embracing them with both arms.
• Common Contexts: Often used when gathering or carrying items like firewood, laundry, books, groceries, or flowers.

Examples

• She came in from the garden with an armful of fresh flowers.
• He carried an armful of logs to the fireplace.
• The child struggled to carry the large armful of stuffed animals.

Advanced Usage

• "An armful of": This is the standard prepositional phrase used with the noun. It is not typically used with other prepositions or as a standalone noun without a descriptor.
  • Correct: She brought in an armful of books.
  • Less Common: She brought in an armful. (This is grammatically correct but less specific; context usually clarifies what the armful contains.)

Variants and Related Words

• Armload (n): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "armful." It emphasizes the load or weight being carried.
  • He carried an armload of firewood.

Synonyms

• Load: A quantity of something that is carried.
• Bundle: A collection of things tied or wrapped together.
• Sheaf: A bundle of grain stalks, or more generally, a bundle of papers.

Notes on Meaning

• The word specifically refers to the capacity of a person's two arms together, not one arm (which would be an "armful" is not typically used for a single arm; "armload" is also for two arms).
• It describes a volume or quantity, not a precise measurement. The actual amount varies depending on the size of the person and the objects.

Noun

1. the quantity that can be contained in the arms