noun [pl.]
1 (formal) weapons, especially as used by the army, navy or air force:
arms and ammunition * Police officers in the UK do not usually carry arms.
seealsoFIREARM, SMALLARMS
2 = COATOFARMS:
the King's Arms (= used as the name of a pub)
IDIOMS
be under arms to have weapons and be ready to fight in a war
lay down your arms to stop fighting:
The government called on the terrorists to lay down their arms.
take up arms (against sb) to prepare to fight:
He encouraged his supporters to take up arms against the state.
(be) up in arms (about / over sth) (informal) (of a group of people) to be very angry about sth and ready to protest strongly about it
moreatBEARv., PRESENTv.
