weapons considered collectively
"The government spent billions to strengthen its national arms against potential threats from neighboring countries."
the official symbols of a family, state, etc.
"The city council voted to adopt new arms for the municipality that featured a golden key on a blue shield."
plural of arm
"The heraldist carefully sketched the new design for the duke's arms before presenting it to the council."
Clipping of coat of arms.
In plain English: Arms are the upper parts of your body that stretch from your shoulders to your hands.
"She raised her arms to wave at her friends across the street."
Usage: The plural noun arms refers to weapons or limbs, not a heraldic crest. Use this word when discussing physical body parts, military equipment, or force, never for family lineage symbols.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of arm
"The security guard arms the system every night before he leaves for home."
In plain English: To arm someone means to give them weapons so they can fight.
"After the long hike, he rested his arms on the railing to catch his breath."
Usage: Use "arms" to describe the act of equipping someone or something with weapons or protective gear, such as when a government arms its soldiers. Do not confuse this transitive verb with the plural noun referring to human limbs or weapon systems.
The word "arms" comes from the Old French and Latin words for weapons, which trace back to an ancient root meaning "to fit together." It entered English through Middle English while retaining its original sense of military equipment.