arsenal
n.-
1 military storage (n.) C1 Advanced Technicala building or place where weapons and military equipment are made or stored.
a military establishment for the manufacture, storage, or repair of arms and ammunition.
ExampleThe old arsenal was converted into a museum showing weapons from the war.
ExampleSecurity at the naval arsenal was tightened significantly following reports of a potential breach in the perimeter fence.
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2 stock of weapons (n.) B2 Upper Intermediateall the weapons that a country or group has.
the entire collection of weaponry and war materiel possessed by a nation or military force.
ExampleThe two countries agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal to keep the peace.
ExampleDiplomatic efforts focused on the systematic decommissioning of the chemical arsenal that had been accumulated over the previous decade.
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3 collection of resources (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea wide range of skills, tools, or methods that you can use to achieve something.
a figurative store or supply of resources, skills, or arguments available for a particular purpose.
ExampleThe lawyer had a whole arsenal of evidence to prove her client was innocent.
ExampleModern doctors have a vast arsenal of antibiotics at their disposal, though the rise of resistant bacteria remains a significant concern.
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4 football club (n.) B1 Intermediate British English Sporta famous professional football team based in London.
refers specifically to Arsenal Football Club, a major professional team in the English Premier League.
ExampleHe has been a loyal Arsenal fan since he was a young boy.
ExampleThe match at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal secure a narrow victory against their North London rivals.
- the gunners
From Italian arsenale, from Arabic دَار الصِّنَاعَة (dār aṣ-ṣināʕa, “manufacturing shop”), from دَار (dār) + صِنَاعَة (ṣināʕa).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 19, 2026