arms

/ ɑːmz /

plural noun

1. weapons collectively See also small arms
2. military exploits

   prowess in arms

3. the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia
4. bear arms
   1. to carry weapons
   2. to serve in the armed forces
   3. to have a coat of arms
5. in arms or under arms
   armed and prepared for war
6. lay down one's arms
   to stop fighting; surrender
7. present arms
   military
   1. a position of salute in which the rifle is brought up to a position vertically in line with the body, muzzle uppermost and trigger guard to the fore
   2. the command for this drill
8. take arms or take up arms
   to prepare to fight
9. to arms!
   arm yourselves!
10. up in arms
    indignant; prepared to protest strongly

Word History and Origins

Origin of arms¹

C13: from Old French armes, from Latin arma; see arm ²

Example Sentences

They had come from the US, which one expert describes as a "supermarket" feeding an arms race among gangs that have brought chaos to the Caribbean island nation.

From BBC

She stands in front of the machine and raises her arms, allowing the romanticism of the image she’s created to linger.

From Salon

“He just could not risk asking her to lift her arms, that she was clearly death gripping the cliff with, in order to place a rescue strap on,” the aviation team wrote on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

Another distinguishing feature of the species is the presence of hooks on the middle of their eight arms.

From BBC

"But leaving George in her arms made it just that little, little bit easier because you knew that somebody really did care."

From BBC