1. (

• arm

) 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 ;

2. (

• arm ,
• branch ,
• limb

) any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer" ;

3. (

• weapon ,
• arm ,
• weapon_system

) any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" ;

4. (

• arm ,

) the part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person ;

5. (

• branch ,
• subdivision ,
• arm

) a division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"; "botany is a branch of biology"; "the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages" ;

6. (

• sleeve ,
• arm

) the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm ;

1. (

• arm ,
• build_up ,
• fortify ,
• gird

) prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border" ;

2. (

• arm

) supply with arms; "The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan" ;