armed Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb prepare oneself for a military confrontation
    build up; gird; fortify; arm.
    • The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East
    • troops are building up on the Iraqi border
  2. verb supply with arms
    arm.
    • The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan
  3. adjective (used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
    • armed robbery
  4. adjective having arms or arms as specified; used especially in combination
    • the many-armed goddess Shiva
  5. adjective (used of plants and animals) furnished with bristles and thorns

WordNet

Armed adjective
Definitions
  1. Furnished with weapons of offense or defense; furnished with the means of security or protection. "And armed host." Dryden.
  2. Furnished with whatever serves to add strength, force, or efficiency.
    A distemper eminently armed from heaven. De Foe.
  3. (Her.) Having horns, beak, talons, etc; -- said of beasts and birds of prey.

Webster 1913