arm

1 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization a company that needs to beef up its marketing arm if it wants to compete in today's business world Synonyms agency, arm, branch, bureau, department, desk, office, serviceRelated Words subdepartment, subdivision

2 a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline this arm of the Atlantic is surprisingly peaceful, as the stronger ocean currents do not reach this far Synonyms arm, bay, bight, cove, creek [chiefly British], embayment, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), inlet, loch [Scottish]Related Words harbor, port, road(s), roadstead; narrow, sound, strait; bayou; backwater, slough (also slew or slue)

3 an area of land that juts out into a body of water Maine has so many long, narrow arms that jut out into the ocean that early coastal settlers found it much easier to travel by sea Synonyms arm, foreland, headland, ness, peninsula, point, promontory, spitRelated Words breakwater, jetty

4 the right or means to command or control others few criminals manage to permanently escape the long arm of the law Synonyms arm, authority, clutch, command, control, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery, reign, rein(s), swayRelated Words clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight; jurisdiction; direction, management; dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy; prerogative, privilege, right; eminence, importance, momentNear Antonyms helplessness, weaknessAntonyms impotence, impotency, powerlessness