1. The act of legally taking and keeping someone in custody by the police: Witnesses and the photos taken by the in-store cameras have led to the arrest of four suspects.
2. In medicine, an occurrence in which a part of the body suddenly stops functioning: The patient went into a cardiac arrest.

The local hospital reported an increase in respiratory arrests or instances in which several patients suddenly stopped breathing.

3. Etymology: from Latin ad-, "at, to" + restare, "to remain, to stop".

1. To use the power and authority of the law to take and to keep someone in jail: The police officer said, "I'm arresting you in the name of the law."

The police arrested the man for assaulting his wife.

2. To stop the movement of something: Dr. Jones told the patient, Mrs. Thompson, that drugs can't arrest the progress of the disease, however they can slow it down.

An unjustified holding of someone in custody by the police which is not legally justified: Sharon was suing the police for her false arrest because she didn't do anything wrong.