army
UK /ˈɑː.mi/ · US /ˈɑɹ.mi/ noun, proper noun
Forms armies ARMYs
- noun 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.”
- noun 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.”
- noun (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.”
- noun The governmental agency in charge of a state's army. “The army opposed the legislature's involvement.”
- noun (figuratively) A large group of people working toward the same purpose. “It took an army of accountants to uncover the fraud.”
- noun (collective, figurative) A large group of animals, especially caterpillars or social insects working toward the same purpose. “Our house is being attacked by an army of ants.”
- noun (figuratively) Any multitude. “There was an army of construction cranes working on building the skyscraper.”
- noun The military as a whole. “The People's Liberation Army Navy of China.”
- proper noun A sports team representing the US Military Academy at West Point. “Army has several returning starters this year.”
- proper noun Hexagram 7 of the I Ching (䷆)
- noun (fandom slang, uncountable) The fandom of the K-pop boy band BTS.
- noun (fandom slang, countable) An individual fan of the K-pop boy band BTS.
Synonyms
host here regular army ground forces United States Army US Army U. S. Army USA
Etymology
From (1386) Middle English armee, borrowed from Old French armee (cf. modern 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”).
Doublet of armada. Displaced native Old English here and fierd.
From an acronym/backronym based on army ("Adorable Representative for MC Youth"), suggesting a large, devoted fanbase.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A collection or body of men armed for war, esp. one organized in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions, under proper officers.
- noun A body of persons organized for the advancement of a cause; as, the Blue Ribbon Army.
Etymology [F. armée, fr. L. armata, fem. of armatus, p. p. of armare to arm. Cf. Armada.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “army”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details