Word
arms
US/ˈɑɹmz/
UK/ˈɑːmz/
In Japanese
arms; weapon; ordnance
核兵器を全面的に禁止して初めて、兵器競争を止めさせることができる。
Only by prohibiting nuclear weapons altogether can we stop the arms race. Tatoeba
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definitions
01body parts
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. the plural of the body part that goes from your shoulder to your hand.
n. the plural form of the upper limb of the human body.
“He carried the heavy box in his arms while walking up the stairs.”
“She held the infant securely in her arms, rocking gently to soothe the child before the long flight began.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02weapons
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Formal
n. weapons, such as guns or bombs, used for fighting or defense.
n. weaponry or instruments of war; often used in the context of military equipment or the right to own weapons.
“The police found several illegal arms hidden in the back of the truck.”
“The international treaty was designed to limit the trade of small arms in regions currently experiencing civil unrest.”
Usage
Always plural in this sense.
03heraldic symbols
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Formal
n. a special design or picture that represents a family, city, or country.
n. distinctive heraldic bearings or emblems, such as a coat of arms, used by a family, institution, or state.
“The university's coat of arms is printed on every graduation certificate.”
“The knight's shield bore the ancestral arms of his house, featuring a golden lion against a deep crimson background.”
Usage
Usually appears in the phrase 'coat of arms'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “arms” in context.
Verb
01. bear arms
“The constitution protects the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.”
verb + noun
02. fold your arms
“He decided to fold his arms and wait patiently for the meeting to begin.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. take up arms
“The citizens were forced to take up arms to defend their city from the invaders.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. bare arms
“You should wear a jacket because it is too cold to have bare arms today.”
adj + noun
05. outstretched arms
“The child ran toward her mother with outstretched arms.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. coat of arms
“The family's coat of arms was displayed prominently above the fireplace.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. in someone's arms
“The baby fell asleep peacefully in his father's arms.”
prep + noun
08. up in arms
“Local residents are up in arms about the new tax increases.”
prep + noun
09. arms race
Real-World Examples
“The newborn baby sat in the mom’s arms covered in little white bumps, a heat rash.” “Injuries to the arms and legs were the most common, followed by head or facial injuries.” Etymology
From Middle English armes, from Old French armes, from Latin arma (“weapons”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-mo-, a suffixed form of h₂er- (“to fit together”), hence ultimately cognate with etymology 2.
See arm.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. babe in arms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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