arm*/*/*/

[ɑːm] noun [C] I

1) one of the two long parts of your body with your hands at the end

I put my arm around his shoulders.[/ex]

She was holding the baby in her arms.[/ex]

Jim was carrying a parcel under his arm.[/ex]

She folded her arms across her chest.[/ex]

Lovers were strolling by arm in arm.[/ex]

2) the part of a chair that you rest your arm on when you are sitting in it

3) a part of an organization that deals with a particular subject or activity

the insurance arm of a major bank[/ex]

•

at arm's length — 1) held away from your body with your arm stretched out straight[/ex]

He held the baby out at arm's length.[/ex]

— 2) in a situation where you avoid becoming involved with someone else

She never gives interviews, and tends to keep the media at arm's length.[/ex]

up in arms — angry and complaining about something[/ex]

Residents are up in arms about the closure of the local library.[/ex]

See:

arms,

open I

II

verb [T]

arm [ɑːm]

to provide someone with weapons