arm
noun · adjective · verb
Simple meaning
A human limb.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
ahrmIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɑɹm
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
anatomy
A human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
anatomy
The portion of the upper human appendage, from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand.
A limb, or locomotive or prehensile organ, of an invertebrate animal.
anatomy
The extended portion of the upper limb, from the shoulder to the elbow.
The part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
The part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person
adjective
Of, from, or pertaining to Armenia, the Armenian people, the Armenian language, or the Armenian alphabet.
verb
Supply with arms
“The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan.”
transitive
To supply with armour or (later especially) weapons.
transitive
To prepare (a tool, weapon, or system) for action; to activate.
transitivefigurative
To supply with the equipment, knowledge, authority, or other tools needed for a particular task; to furnish with capability; to equip.
transitive
To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add strength, force, security, or efficiency.
intransitive
To take up weapons; to arm oneself.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
Used this way, arm is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a clinical use: it belongs to medical description, where it is factual rather than emotive.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Medicine/healthcare
- Science
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use arm
- “The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.