arm
ahm
Arm (noun) means the part of the human body running from the shoulder down to the hand. Example: “The nurse gently wrapped a cuff around my arm to check my blood pressure.”
noun
1
The part of the human body running from the shoulder down to the hand.
"The nurse gently wrapped a cuff around my arm to check my blood pressure."
"She waved her arm to flag down the taxi."
"He broke his arm falling off his bike."
2
A limb of an object or organization that sticks out from the main body, such as a chair arm, a crane arm, or a branch of a company.
"The crane's long arm swung the heavy beam over the building site."
"The lamp has an adjustable arm you can bend into any position."
"The bank's investment arm posted strong profits this quarter."
3
A narrow stretch of water or land reaching out from a larger body.
"We kayaked up a narrow arm of the sea to reach the village."
"A long arm of the river curled around the farmland."
"The boat drifted into a quiet arm of the lake."
verb
1
To equip someone or something with weapons, or more loosely, with the tools needed for a task.
"Teachers should arm students with good study habits before their exams begin."
"The rebels were armed with rifles smuggled across the border."
"She armed herself with facts before the debate."
How to use arm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually the body part between shoulder and hand, but also anything that sticks out and extends from a main structure — a chair arm, a company arm, an arm of the sea.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb "to arm" (give weapons) with the noun "arm" (limb) — context almost always makes it clear, but they're unrelated in meaning even though spelled the same.
Common pairings
arm in arm
up in arms
armed to the teeth
the arm of the law
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Word forms
- Plural
- arms
- Third person singular
- arms
- Past tense
- armed
- Comparative
- armer, more arm
- Superlative
- armest, most arm
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse gently wrapped a cuff around my _____ to check my blood pressure.
Etymology
From Old English earm, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to join or fit together" — the same root that gives Latin armus ("shoulder") and, further along, the word "army."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for arm
See all rhymes for arm →Frequently asked questions
What does “arm” mean?
The word “arm” means the part of the human body running from the shoulder down to the hand. In plain terms, usually the body part between shoulder and hand, but also anything that sticks out and extends from a main structure — a chair arm, a company arm, an arm of the sea.
How do you pronounce “arm”?
“Arm” is pronounced ahm (/ɑɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “arm” in a sentence?
Here is “arm” used in a sentence: “She waved her arm to flag down the taxi.”
What part of speech is “arm”?
Depending on how it is used, “arm” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “arm” come from?
The word “arm” comes from Latin. From Old English earm, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to join or fit together" — the same root that gives Latin armus ("shoulder") and, further along, the word "army.".
Is “arm” a common word?
“Arm” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “arm” have?
“Arm” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the part of the human body running from the shoulder down to the hand.
What is the difference between the arm and the forearm?
The arm is the whole upper limb, running from the shoulder all the way to the hand. The forearm is only the lower part of it, between the elbow and the wrist. The section above the elbow is called the upper arm, and the part below it is the forearm.
What are the bones of the arm?
The upper arm contains a single long bone, the humerus. The forearm has two bones side by side, the radius and the ulna, which let you twist your hand palm-up and palm-down. These meet at three main joints — the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist — giving the arm its wide range of movement.
What is the difference between an arm and a limb?
A limb is any of the body's four main projecting parts used for movement — the two arms and two legs all count as limbs. 'Arm' is more specific: it names an upper limb, from the shoulder to the hand. So every arm is a limb, but not every limb is an arm.
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