Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

arms

/ɑɹmz/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.82 in modern English

Syllables: arms
IPA: /ɑɹmz/

6

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Weaponry, weapons.

noun

A visual design composed according to heraldic rules, normally displayed upon an escutcheon and sometimes accompanied by other elements of an achievement

verb

third-person singular simple present indicative of arm

noun

noun

Example Sentences

"The arms of England are: gules, three lions passant guardant or."
"The Metropolitan Electric trams bore the three seaxes of the Middlesex arms, with a crown above the shield, on a blue circle."
"If the Duke arms himself for war, the king will not sit by idly!"

Etymology

From Middle English armes, from Old French armes, from Latin arma (“weapons”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-mo-, a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to fit together”), hence ultimately cognate with etymology 2.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: armes, *h₂er-mo-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɑɹmz/
British English: /ɑːmz/

Derived Forms

antiarms armsbearing armshouse armsmaker

Phrases

arms dealer arms trafficking Berney Arms Bronwydd Arms coat of arms Craven Arms equality of arms feat of arms

Synonyms

coat of arms blazon blazonry weaponry implements of war weapons system munition

Rhymes With

farms alarms charms harms forearms armes garms

Questions

How do you pronounce arms?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɑɹmz/.
What does arms mean?: Weaponry, weapons.
Where does arms come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce arms

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “arms”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɑɹmz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “arms”.
Repeat and practice — Say “arms” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.