| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| arm1 |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  ärm |
| NOUN: | 1. An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder. 2. A part similar to a human arm, such as the forelimb of an animal or a long part projecting from a central support in a machine. 3. Something, such as a sleeve on a garment or a support on a chair, that is designed to cover or support the human arm. 4. A relatively narrow extension jutting out from a large mass: an arm of the sea. See synonyms at branch. 5. An administrative or functional branch, as of an organization. 6. Power or authority: the long arm of the law. 7. Sports The skill of throwing or pitching a ball well. | | IDIOMS: | an arm and a leg Slang An excessively high price: a cruise that cost an arm and a leg. arm in arm With arms linked together: They walked across the beach arm in arm. at arm's length At such a distance that physical or social contact is discouraged: kept the newcomer at arm's length at first. with open arms With great cordiality and hospitality. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English earm. See ar- in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | armed (ärmd) —ADJECTIVE
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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