Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

arm|ful /ɑː ^r mfʊl/ (armfuls ) N‑COUNT An armful of something is the amount of it that you can carry fairly easily. □ [+ of ] He hurried out with an armful of brochures.

arm|hole /ɑː ^r mhoʊl/ (armholes ) N‑COUNT The armholes of something such as a shirt or dress are the openings through which you put your arms, or the places where the sleeves are attached.

ar|mi|stice /ɑː ^r m I st I s/ N‑SING An armistice is an agreement between countries who are at war with one another to stop fighting and to discuss ways of making peace. □  Finally, the Bolsheviks signed an armistice with Germany.

arm|load /ɑː ^r mloʊd/ (armloads ) N‑COUNT An armload of something is the same as an armful of something. □ [+ of ] …an armload of books.

ar|mor /ɑː ^r mə ^r / → see armour

ar|mored /ɑː ^r mə ^r d/ → see armoured

ar|mor|er /ɑː ^r mərə ^r / (armorers ) → see armourer

ar|mory /ɑː ^r məri/ (armories ) → see armoury

ar|mour /ɑː ^r mə ^r / in AM, use armor 1 N‑UNCOUNT In former times, armour was special metal clothing that soldiers wore for protection in battle. □  …knights in armour.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Armour consists of tanks and other military vehicles used in battle. [MILITARY ] □  …the biggest movement of heavy British armour.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Armour is a hard, usually metal, covering that protects a vehicle against attack. □  …a formidable warhead that can penetrate the armour of most tanks.

4 → see also body armour

5knight in shining armour → see knight

ar|moured /ɑː ^r mə ^r d/ in AM, use armored 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Armoured vehicles are fitted with a hard metal covering in order to protect them from gunfire and other missiles.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Armoured troops are troops in armoured vehicles.

ar|mour|er /ɑː ^r mərə ^r / (armourers ) in AM, use armorer N‑COUNT An armourer is someone who makes or supplies weapons.

a rmour-pla ted in AM, use armor-plated ADJ [usu ADJ n] An armour-plated vehicle or building has a hard metal covering in order to protect it from gunfire and other missiles. □  He has taken to travelling in an armour-plated car.

a rmour-pla ting in AM, use armor-plating N‑UNCOUNT The armour-plating on a vehicle or building is the hard metal covering which is intended to protect it from gunfire and other missiles.

ar|moury /ɑː ^r məri/ (armouries ) in AM, use armory 1 N‑COUNT A country's armoury is all the weapons and military equipment that it has. □  He threatened to open the country's armouries to loyal tribes in an attempt to hold off the rebellion.

2 N‑COUNT An armoury is a place where weapons, bombs, and other military equipment are stored.

3 N‑COUNT In the United States, an armoury is a building used by the National Guard or Army Reserve for meetings and training.

4 N‑COUNT An armoury is a factory where weapons are made. [AM ]

5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can refer to a large number of things which someone has available for a particular purpose as their armoury . [BRIT ] □  The strongest weapon in the government's armoury is the price cuts announced on Saturday.

arm|pit /ɑː ^r mp I t/ (armpits ) N‑COUNT Your armpits are the areas of your body under your arms where your arms join your shoulders.

arm|rest /ɑː ^r mrest/ (armrests ) also arm rest N‑COUNT The armrests on a chair are the two pieces on either side that support your arms when you are sitting down.

a rms race N‑SING An arms race is a situation in which two countries or groups of countries are continually trying to get more and better weapons than each other.

army ◆◆◆ /ɑː ^r mi/ (armies )

1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments. □  After returning from France, he joined the army. □  The army is about to launch a major offensive.