ENGLISH
REFERENCE

armor

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɑɹmɝ// ar·mor

n. strong clothing or a hard covering that protects the body from injury. You usually see it on soldiers from the past or on animals like turtles.

n. protective covering used to prevent damage from weapons or projectiles. Often used figuratively to describe a psychological defense mechanism.


SIMPLE

The knight wore heavy metal armor into the battle.

CONTEXTUAL

Modern soldiers wear body armor made of lightweight materials to protect them from bullets.

COMPLEX

The museum's collection features several suits of ceremonial armor that were designed more for visual prestige than for actual protection on the battlefield.

Origin

From Middle English armure, armour, armor, armeure, borrowed from Anglo-Norman armure and Old French armeüre, from Latin armātūra. Doublet of armature and armure. By surface analysis, arm (“to cover or furnish”) + -or (suffix forming agent nouns or nouns of quality, state, or condition).

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the material or concept; 'a suit of armor' is the standard countable phrase for a single set.

Pitfall

The knights wore many armors.The knights wore suits of armor.Armor is typically uncountable; use 'suits of' or 'pieces of' to count individual sets.

Idioms2 entries

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