armchair
A
round the arm to show the wearer's official position, as a sign of MOURNING etc 2 BrE a band of plastic filled with air, which children wear on their arms to help them float in water while they learn to swim
arm·chair¹ /'ɑːmtʃeə ǁ 'ɑːrm-/ n a comfortable chair with supports for the arms → see picture at CHAIR
armchair² /'ɑːmtʃeə ǁ 'ɑːrm-/ adj [A] usually derog ready to give advice or pass judgment, but not taking an active part: an armchair critic/revolutionary
armed /aːmdǁɑːrd/ adj 1 [(with)] having or using weapons or armour: I warn you that I am armed. | The police were armed with truncheons and riot shields. | They were convicted of armed robbery. | Could the situation lead to armed conflict? (=war) (fig.) She came to the meeting armed with all the facts and figures to prove her case. 2 armed to the teeth very heavily armed
,armed 'forces n [(the)P] the military forces of a country, usually the army, navy, and airforce
Ar·me·ni·a /ɑː'miːniəlɑːr-/ a country in the extreme south-west of Asia, surrounded by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Population: 3,326,448 (2003). Capital: Yerevan. —Armenian n, adj
arm·ful /'ɑːmfulǁ'ɑːrm-/ n [(of)] all that a person can hold in one or both arms: an armful of fresh flowers
arm·hole /'ɑːmhəʊl'ɑːrm-/ n a hole in a shirt, coat etc, through which the arm is put
ar·mi·stice /ˈaːmɪstɪsǁˈɑːrm-/ n an agreement to stop fighting, usually for a short time. The word is especially used to mean the armistice that brought about the end of World War I, on 11th November 1918. ➔ compare CEASE-FIRE, TRUCE
'Armistice ,Day November 11th, celebrated as the ANNIVERSARY of the end of World War I in 1918 ➔ see also REMEMBRANCE DAY, VETERANS DAY; see Feature on page A19
arm·lock /'ɑːmlɒkǁ'ɑːrmlaːk/ n a way in which a WRESTLER holds an opponent's arm, that prevents them from moving
ar·mour BrE || armor AmE /'ɑːmə ǁ 'ɑːr-/ n [U] 1 strong protective metal or leather covering for the body as worn formerly in battle by fighting men and their horses: a suit of armour | (fig.) He seems immovable in his opposition to our plan, but I think I detect a chink in his armour. (=a weak point in his position) 2 strong protective metal covering on modern vehicles of war: armour-clad warships/tanks 3 the protective covering of some plants and animals
ar·moured BrE || armored AmE /ˈɑːmədǁˈɑːrmərd/ adj 1 protected by armour: armoured vehicles 2 [A] having fighting vehicles protected by armour: an armoured division
,armoured 'car n 1 an armoured military vehicle, usually with a powerful gun 2 a car protected by armour, used especially by important people: The President rode in an armoured car.
ar·mour·er BrE || armorer AmE /'ɑːmərə ǁ 'ɑːr-/ n a person who makes, repairs, and tests weapons and armour
,armour 'plate /||'... ./ also ,armour 'plating /||'... ../ n [U] a specially hardened metal cover used as protection for military vehicles —,armour-'plated /||'... ../ adj
ar·mour·y BrE || armory AmE /'ɑːməri'ɑːr-/ n a place where weapons are stored
arm·pit /'ɑːm,pɪtǁ'ɑrm-/ n 1 the hollow place under the arm at the shoulder 2 the armpit of... AmE infml used about a place that is the ugliest or most unpleasant place in a particular area: I grew up in a city that was once considered the armpit of the East Coast - Baltimore. | Bob says Des Moines is the armpit of Iowa, but I have a friend who loves it there.
arms /aːmzǁaːrmz/ n [P] 1 weapons of war: The government intends to cut expenditure on arms. | an arms control agreement | They have 50,000 men under arms. (=armed and ready to fight) | The general called on the defeated army to lay down their arms. (=stop fighting) | (lit) They took up arms (=became soldiers) in defence of their country. 2 a COAT OF ARMS. The word is sometimes used in the names of PUBS such as The Farmer's Arms. 3 up in arms infml very angry and ready to argue or fight: The women are up in arms over/ about their low rate of pay. ➔ see also SMALL ARMS
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'arms con,trol n [U] the attempt by powerful countries to limit the number and kind of weapons of war owned by themselves and other countries
'arms race n [usually sing.] a continuing struggle between two opposing countries in which each tries to produce more and better weapons of war than the other
Arm·strong, Lance /ˈɑːmstrɒŋ||ˈɑːrmstrɔːŋ/ (1971-) a US CYCLIST, considered to be one of the best ever. He is known especially for his success at the Tour de France. In 2004, he became the first person to win the race six times. In 1996 he discovered that he had CANCER and he almost died, but he returned to racing in 1998. Even though cycling is not a popular sport in the US, he is respected and famous because of his success after such a serious illness.
Armstrong, Lou·is /ˈluːi/ (1900-71) a US JAZZ musician, band leader, and singer, who played the TRUMPET and was also known as 'Satchmo'. He is considered to be one of the most important jazz musicians ever, and his low rough singing voice is easy to recognize. He also appeared in many films. ➔ see colour photo on page A31
Armstrong, Neil /niːl/
(1930-) an American ASTRONAUT who was the first man to step onto the moon, in 1968. As he did so, he said, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind'.
ar·my /ˈɑːmi||ˈɑːr-/ n [C+sing./ pl. v] 1 a) the branch of a country's military forces that is concerned with attack and defence on land: to join the army | a, modern well-equipped army | an army officer b) any military force trained to fight on land: The radio station was seized by a rebel army. 2 any large group, especially one that is brought together for some purpose: An army of workmen was brought in to build the stadium. 3 an army marches on its stomach a phrase which is believed to have been said by Napoleon, meaning that soldiers need good food in order to walk and fight
'army ,brat n AmE a person whose father was in one of the armed forces, and who therefore probably moved often from place to place as a child
Arn·hem /ˈɑːnəm||ˈɑːr-/ a city in the Netherlands where British and ALLIED forces landed in WORLD WAR II and where great many soldiers died
Ar·nold, Ben·e·dict /ˈɑːnəld||ˈɑːr-, ˈbenədɪkt/ (1741-1801) an American military leader, known for betraying (BETRAY) his country when he changed to support the British during the AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Arnold, Mat·thew /ˈmæθjuː/ (1822-88) a British writer and poet, known for his poems such as Dover Beach and The Scholar Gypsy, as well as for his books and ESSAYS discussing literature and society
A-road /ˈeɪ rəʊd/ n in the UK, an important main road that is not a MOTORWAY. The names of A-roads begin with the letter A and then have a number, such as the A1 and the A414.
a·ro·ma /əˈrəmə/ n 1 a strong usually pleasant smell: the aroma of hot coffee 2 a noticeable feeling or quality connected with a place or situation; AURA: An aroma of mystery hung about the place.
a·ro·ma·ther·a·py /ˌɑː,rəʊməˈθerəpi/ n [U] a kind of treatment using special oils to MASSAGE the body. This is usually regarded as a form of ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.
ar·o·mat·ic /ˌærəˈmætɪk/ adj having a strong pleasant smell: Aromatic herbs are often used in cooking. —-ally /kə/ adv
a·rose /əˈrəʊz/ past tense of ARISE
a·round¹ /əˈraʊnd/ adv 1 especially AmE from one place to another; to various places; about: I travelled around for a few years. | The company is looking around for a suitable site for the factory. | Do you know your way around? 2 especially AmE in various places; here and there; about: Why are all these boo