arm
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
The upper limb of the human body from the shoulder to the hand.
A part of a structure, machine, or organization that resembles or functions like a human arm; a branch or division; to supply with weapons or tools.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a primary concrete meaning (body part) and several common metaphorical extensions (e.g., arm of a chair, arm of a company). The verb form is distinct but related via the concept of 'equipping'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling and core meanings are identical. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'armed forces' vs. 'military' in certain contexts).
Connotations
Identical. The verb 'to arm' carries the same military/defensive connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Both noun and verb forms are extremely high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
arm [someone] (with [something])be armed (with)arm [oneself] (against/for)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “arm in arm”
- “cost an arm and a leg”
- “twist someone's arm”
- “with open arms”
- “up in arms”
- “at arm's length”
- “a shot in the arm”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a division or subsidiary of a larger company (e.g., 'the company's retail arm').
Academic
Used in anatomy, biology, and metaphorically in social sciences (e.g., 'the executive arm of government').
Everyday
Primarily refers to the body part or common idioms.
Technical
In engineering/design, refers to a projecting part (e.g., 'the arm of a crane', 'robotic arm').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government decided to arm the border patrol.
- She armed herself with an umbrella before leaving.
American English
- The police officer is armed and ready.
- We need to arm ourselves with the facts before the meeting.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Armed' is adjective/verb participle.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Armed' is adjective/verb participle.)
adjective
British English
- The armed response unit arrived quickly.
- It was a heavily armed convoy.
American English
- He faced an armed assailant.
- The treaty covers nuclear-armed states.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She broke her arm while playing.
- He carried the box in his arms.
- The baby fell asleep in her mother's arms.
- He folded his arms and waited patiently.
- The charity is the fundraising arm of the hospital.
- Please take a seat in the armchair.
- The new evidence was a shot in the arm for the investigation.
- They walked arm in arm along the beach at sunset.
- The rebels were poorly armed compared to the national army.
- The long arm of the law finally caught up with the fugitive.
- The company's manufacturing arm is based overseas.
- Diplomats are attempting to avert an arms race in the region.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Your ARM helps you give a CHARMing hug. Both words rhyme and share the 'arm' spelling.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS PHYSICAL STRENGTH (e.g., 'the long arm of the law'), ORGANIZATIONS ARE BODIES (e.g., 'the research arm of the university'), PREPARATION IS ARMING (e.g., 'armed with knowledge').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'arm' for the entire hand (рука). In English, 'arm' is shoulder to wrist; 'hand' is wrist to fingers.
- The verb 'to arm' (вооружать) is a false friend with the Russian 'армия' (army).
Common Mistakes
- *'I hurt my arm hand.' (Confusing 'arm' and 'hand')
- *'He has strong arms.' (Using plural for a generic statement is fine, but singular 'a strong arm' is also correct.)
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg', what does 'arm' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's used for primates and, metaphorically, for objects (arm of a chair) or organisations (arm of a company). For other animals, 'forelimb' or 'leg' is more common.
The 'arm' is from the shoulder to the wrist. The 'hand' is from the wrist to the fingertips. In many other languages, one word covers both.
Yes. The verb 'to arm' means to supply with weapons or, more generally, with the tools or knowledge needed for a task (e.g., 'armed with information').
It primarily means carrying a weapon or equipped with weapons. It can also mean involving the use of weapons (e.g., 'armed conflict') or, figuratively, prepared with something (e.g., 'armed with data').
Collections
Part of a collection
Body and Health
A1 · 49 words · Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary.