armrest

Everyday

An armrest is the part of a chair, sofa, or seat in a car, bus or plane where you rest your arm. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life armrests are on armchairs, cinema seats, aeroplane and car seats. In travel and manners lessons, children learn to share the armrest politely with the person next to them. Phrases: on the armrest, lift the armrest, share the armrest.

Examples

• He rested his elbow on the armrest. tree →
• The cinema seat had a cup holder in the armrest. tree →
• On the plane, I shared the armrest with my sister. tree →
• Lift the armrest so you can slide out of the seat. tree →
• The cat likes to sleep on the armrest of the sofa. tree →
• The car's armrest opens to make a little box. tree →
• Each seat has two armrests. tree →

Note

Countable noun; one word: armrest; use an: an armrest. Also called the arm of a chair. On planes, polite manners say the person in the middle seat often gets the two middle armrests.