arm

[ ahrm ]

/ ɑrm /

noun

the upper limb of the human body, especially the part extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.

the forelimb of any vertebrate.

some part of an organism like or likened to an arm.

any armlike part or attachment, as the tone arm of a phonograph.

a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment: the arm of a coat.

an administrative or operational branch of an organization: A special arm of the government will investigate.

Nautical. any of the curved or bent pieces of an anchor, terminating in the flukes.

an armrest.

an inlet or cove: an arm of the sea.

a combat branch of the military service, as the infantry, cavalry, or field artillery.

power; might; strength; authority: the long arm of the law.

Typography. either of the extensions to the right of the vertical line of a K or upward from the vertical stem of a Y.

Idioms for arm

an arm and a leg, a great deal of money: Our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.

arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined: They walked along arm in arm.

at arm's length, not on familiar or friendly terms; at a distance: He's the kind of person you pity but want to keep at arm's length.

in the arms of Morpheus, asleep: After a strenuous day, he was soon in the arms of Morpheus.

on the arm, Slang. free of charge; gratis: an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.

put the arm on, Slang.

to solicit or borrow money from: She put the arm on me for a generous contribution.
to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on: If they don't cooperate, put the arm on them.

twist someone's arm, to use force or coercion on someone.

with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality: a country that receives immigrants with open arms.

Origin of arm

before 900; Middle English; Old English earm; cognate with Gothic arms, Old Norse armr, Old Frisian erm, Dutch, Old Saxon, Old High German arm (German Arm) arm; Latin armus, Serbo-Croatian rȁme, rȁmo shoulder; akin to Sanskrit īrmá, Avestan arəma-, OPruss irmo arm; not akin to Latin arma arm²

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

armed, adjective arm·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arm

alms arms

Words nearby arm

arlington, arlington heights, arlington national cemetery, arliss, arlon, arm, arm and a leg, arm candy, arm in arm, arm's-length, arm-twist

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (1 of 3)

arm ¹

/ (ɑːm) /

noun

(in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wrist Related adjective: brachial

the part of either of the upper limbs from the elbow to the wrist; forearm

the corresponding limb of any other vertebrate
an armlike appendage of some invertebrates

an object that covers or supports the human arm, esp the sleeve of a garment or the side of a chair, sofa, etc

anything considered to resemble an arm in appearance, position, or function, esp something that branches out from a central support or larger mass an arm of the sea; the arm of a record player

an administrative subdivision of an organization an arm of the government

power; authority the arm of the law

any of the specialist combatant sections of a military force, such as cavalry, infantry, etc

nautical See yardarm

sport, esp ball games ability to throw or pitch he has a good arm

an arm and a leg informal a large amount of money

arm in arm with arms linked

at arm's length at a distance; away from familiarity with or subjection to another

give one's right arm informal to be prepared to make any sacrifice

in the arms of Morpheus sleeping

with open arms with great warmth and hospitality to welcome someone with open arms

verb

(tr) archaic to walk arm in arm with

Derived forms of arm

armless, adjective armlike, adjective

Word Origin for arm

Old English; related to German Arm, Old Norse armr arm, Latin armus shoulder, Greek harmos joint

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (2 of 3)

arm ²

/ (ɑːm) /

verb (tr)

to equip with weapons as a preparation for war

to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, protects, or increases efficiency he armed himself against the cold

to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time
to prepare (an explosive device) for use by introducing a fuse or detonator

nautical to pack arming into (a sounding lead)

noun

(usually plural) a weapon, esp a firearm

Word Origin for arm

C14: (n) back formation from arms, from Old French armes, from Latin arma; (vb) from Old French armer to equip with arms, from Latin armāre, from arma arms, equipment

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (3 of 3)

ARM

abbreviation for

adjustable rate mortgage

Medical definitions for at arm's length

arm

[ ärm ]

n.

An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (1 of 2)

at arm's length

At a distance, avoiding intimacy or familiarity, as in Bill hated seeing his colleagues outside the office, preferring to keep all of them at arm's length, or She was friendly only when he was safely at arm's length. Now often used with the verb keep, this term for distancing oneself from a person, organization, or issue originated as at arm's end but developed its current form by the mid-1600s.

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (2 of 2)

arm

In addition to the idioms beginning with arm

arm and a leg
armed to the teeth
arm in arm

also see:

at arm's length
babe in arms
forewarned is forearmed
give one's eyeteeth (right arm)
long arm of the law
one-armed bandit
put the arm on
shot in the arm
take up arms
talk someone's arm off
twist someone's arm
up in arms
with one arm tied behind
with open arms

BROWSE DICTIONARY

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arm

noun

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Origin of arm

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British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (1 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of arm

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (2 of 3)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (3 of 3)

abbreviation for

Medical definitions for at arm's length

n.

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

arm

noun

Idioms for arm

Origin of arm

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arm

Words nearby arm

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noun

verb

Derived forms of arm

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (2 of 3)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (3 of 3)

abbreviation for

Medical definitions for at arm's length

n.

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with at arm's length (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for at arm's length (1 of 3)