# arm

/ˈɑɹm/ (US) · /ˈɑːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arm
Updated: 2026-07-19

## Senses

### 1. body part

noun · CEFR A1

the part of your body between your shoulder and your hand.

For teachers: the upper human limb, extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

- He carried the heavy box under his left arm while opening the door.
- The athlete suffered a compound fracture to his lower arm during the final minutes of the championship match.

### 2. clothing sleeve

noun · CEFR B1

the part of a shirt or jacket that covers your arm.

For teachers: the portion of a garment that covers the wearer's arm.

- The arms of his sweater were a bit too long for him.
- She rolled up the arms of her linen shirt before beginning the messy task of repainting the kitchen cabinets.

### 3. part of an object

noun · CEFR B1

a long part of an object that sticks out, like on a chair or a crane.

For teachers: a rigid projection extending from the main body of a structure or machine.

- She rested her elbows on the arms of the wooden chair.
- The mechanical arm of the robot reached into the furnace to retrieve the molten glass sample.

### 4. branch of an organization

noun · CEFR B2

a specific part or branch of a large organization.

For teachers: a functional division or branch of a larger administrative or corporate entity.

- The research arm of the company is based in Switzerland.
- The charitable arm of the corporation donated millions to local schools to improve literacy rates in the region.

### 5. weapons

noun · CEFR B2

weapons, especially those used by the military.

For teachers: instruments of offence or defence used in warfare. Usually plural.

- The police were searching for illegal arms hidden in the warehouse.
- The treaty strictly prohibited the export of small arms to regions currently experiencing civil unrest.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'arms' when referring to weapons.

### 6. to provide weapons

verb · CEFR B2

to give weapons to a person or a group.

For teachers: to supply a person, group, or nation with weapons or armour.

- The rebels were armed with modern rifles and grenades.
- The government decided to arm the local police force with non-lethal deterrents to manage the growing protests.

### 7. to prepare or activate

verb · CEFR B2

to make a tool or a security system ready to work.

For teachers: to activate a device or system, such as an alarm or explosive, so that it is ready for use.

- Don't forget to arm the security alarm before you leave the house.
- The technician carefully armed the explosive charges once the site had been cleared of all personnel.

### 8. to provide information

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give someone the information or tools they need for a task.

For teachers: to furnish someone with the necessary knowledge, skills, or equipment for a specific purpose.

- She went to the meeting armed with all the latest sales figures.
- Armed with a comprehensive understanding of the legal precedents, the lawyer felt confident in her ability to win the appeal.

## Examples

- He carries the heavy box under his left arm.
- The doctor asked the patient to hold out her arm so he could check her blood pressure.
- While the skeletal structure of the human arm allows for a wide range of motion, repetitive strain can lead to chronic inflammation in the tendons near the elbow.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.