Army

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɑː.miː/
• US IPA: /ˈɑɹ.mi/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)mi

Origin

From (1386) Middle English armee, from Old French armee (French armée), from Medieval Latin armāta ("armed force"), a noun taken from the past participle of Latin armāre ("to arm"), itself related to arma ("tools, arms"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- ("to join, fit together").

Displaced native Old English here#Etymology 2 ("here").

Full definition of army

Noun

1. A large, highly organized military force, concerned mainly with ground (rather than air or naval) operations.The army was sent in to quell the uprising.
1. Used absolutely for that entire branch of the armed forces.The army received a bigger share of this year's budget increase than the navy or air force.
2. (often capitalized) Within a vast military, a very large tactical contingent (e.g. a number of divisions).The Fourth Army suffered such losses that its remainders were merged into the Second Army, also deployed on the Western front.
2. The governmental agency in charge of a state's army.The army opposed the legislature's involvement.
3. (figuratively) A large group of people working toward the same purpose.It took an army of accountants to uncover the fraud.
4. (figuratively) A large group of social animals working toward the same purpose.Our house is being attacked by an army of ants.
5. (figuratively) Any multitude.On sunny days the beaches draw armies of tourists of all kinds.

Synonyms

• host
• here
• ferd

Derived terms

Related terms

Anagrams

• mary, Mary
• Myra