From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisharmyar‧my /ˈɑːmi $ ˈɑːr-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural armies) 1 → the army2 [countable]ARMY a large organized group of people trained to fight on land in a war Rebel armies have taken control of the radio station.raise an army (=collect together and organize an army to fight a battle) The Slovenians say they can raise an army of 20,000 men.3 [countable]GROUP OF PEOPLE a large number of people involved in the same activityarmy of The village hall is maintained by an army of volunteers.COLLOCATIONSverbsjoin the armyAt 18, I decided to join the army.go into the armyWhen Dan left school, he went into the army.serve in the armyHe had served in the Indian army.leave the armyWhy did you leave the army?be discharged/dismissed from the armyHe developed epilepsy, a condition which led to him being discharged from the army.adjectivesthe British/French/Polish etc armya soldier in the Spanish armya regular/standing army (=permanent and existing whether there is a war or not)The regular army has about 5,000 troops.an invading armyThe towns were looted by the invading army.an occupying army (=one that is in a foreign country which they control by force)There was constant resistance to the occupying army. a victorious armyTwo days later, the victorious German army entered Paris.a defeated armyThe survivors of his defeated army settled in Provence.an advancing army (=moving forward in order to attack)The advancing Roman army was almost upon them.a retreating army (=moving away after being defeated)Washington’s troops pursued the retreating British army.army + NOUNan army base/campthe local army basean army unitThe town was surrounded by army units.an army officerBoth daughters married army officers.an army recruitThe army recruits must undergo basic training.phrasesbe in command of the armyHe had gained respect and was placed in command of the army. THESAURUSthe army the part of a country’s military force that is trained to fight on landHer son joined the army in 2002.an army commanderthe armed forces (also the military especially American English, the services British English, the service American English) the army, navy, and air forceHe served in the armed forces for many years.Riley joined the military after graduating from high school.people in an armysoldier someone who is in the army, especially someone who is not an officerThree soldiers were killed in an hour-long gun battle.troops soldiers, especially those who are taking part in a military attackThe government sent more troops to Iraq.serviceman/servicewoman a man or woman who is in the army, air force, or navyThe hospital treats injured servicemen and women.officer a high-ranking member of the army, air force, or navy who is in charge of a group of soldiers, sailors etcan army officerjoin the armyjoin up British English, enlist American English to join the armyHe joined up when he was 18.be called up British English, be drafted American English to be ordered to serve in the army by the governmentHe was drafted into the US army in 1943.Reserve soldiers were being called up.conscription (also the draft American English) a government policy of ordering people to serve in the armyConscription was introduced in 1916.He had left the country to avoid the draft. GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• Army is usually followed by a singular verb: The army has taken control of the country.• In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The army have taken control of the country.
Examples from the Corpus
army• In 1066 William the Conqueror raised an army and invaded England.• By January he had raised an army of twenty-five thousand men and had headed north to intercept the forces of General Taylor.• Most armies march into new wars wearing the boots designed, too late, for the previous ones.• Units of the Nigerian army were quickly sent to the border.• Perhaps armies are the most intense evocation of this state of mind.• Rebel armies have taken control of the capital's radio station.• In 1939 he married Angela Orred, daughter of a retired army major.• My sons are both in the army.• The missiles were military equipment and confirmed that the army had descended into chaos.• Timothy McVeigh and two army buddies are charged.• Union armies were strung in a southwesterly direction through Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi to the river, completing the encirclement.raise an army• Desiderius responded to the Pope by raising an army and seizing Sinigaglia and Urbino, hitherto papal cities.• By January he had raised an army of twenty-five thousand men and had headed north to intercept the forces of General Taylor.army of• An army of ants overran our picnic.Origin army (1300-1400) Old French armee, from Medieval Latin armata; → ARMADA 