arm

Universal Words noun, verb noun -see also ARMS part of body 1 either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands: He escaped with only a broken arm. * She threw her arms around his neck. * The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm). * She touched him gently on the arm. * He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible). * They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other). * She cradled the child in her arms. * They fell asleep in each other's arms (= holding each other). * He was carrying a number of files under his arm (= between his arm and his body). * He walked in with a tall blonde on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm). of clothing 2 the part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm SYNSLEEVE: The arms will need shortening. of chair 3 the part of a chair, etc. on which you rest your arms: She perched on the arm of his chair. of machinery 4 a long narrow part of an object or a piece of machinery, especially one that moves, for example a record player of water / land 5 a long narrow piece of water or land that is joined to a larger area: A small bridge spans the arm of the river. of organization 6 [usuallysing.] ~ (of sth) a section of a large organization that deals with one particular activity SYNWING: the research arm of the company IDIOMS cost / pay an arm and a leg (informal) to cost/pay a lot of money keep sb at arm's length to avoid having a close relationship with sb: He keeps all his clients at arm's length. moreatAKIMBO, BABE, BEARv., CHANCEv., FOLDv., LONGadj., OPENadj., RIGHTadj., SHOTn., TWISTv. verb 1 ~ yourself / sb (with sth) to provide weapons for yourself/sb in order to fight a battle or a war: [VN] The crowd armed themselves with sticks and stones. * (figurative) She had armed herself for the meeting with all the latest statistics. * [V] The country was arming against the enemy. seealsoARMED 2 [VN] to make a bomb, etc. ready to explode compareDISARM IDIOMS armed to the teeth (written) having many weapons