1To cross one's arms or legs, or to link arms with someone, e.g. while walking together.
彼は腕を組んで考え込んでいた。
He was thinking deeply with his arms crossed.
二人は腕を組んで街を歩いた。
The two walked through the town arm in arm.
足を組んで座るのが癖だ。
I have a habit of sitting with my legs crossed.
2To assemble parts or elements into a single thing; also used for putting together a TV program, schedule, or plan.
木材を組んで棚を作った。
I put together some wood to make a shelf.
来月の特集番組を組む予定だ。
We're planning to put together a special program for next month.
旅行の日程を組むのが好きだ。
I enjoy putting together travel itineraries.
パイプを組んで足場を作った。
We assembled pipes to build scaffolding.
3To braid or plait things such as thread, cord, or hair.
母は毎朝私の髪を組んでくれた。
Every morning my mother braided my hair.
縄をきつく組んで丈夫なロープを作った。
I tightly plaited the rope to make a strong cord.
4In sumo, judo, etc., to grapple with an opponent, locking bodies together.
二人の力士ががっぷり四つに組んだ。
The two sumo wrestlers grappled firmly, chest to chest.
柔道の稽古で相手と組む練習をした。
In judo practice, I trained grappling with a partner.
5For people or groups to cooperate toward a common goal; also used for forming a pair or team.
二社は業務提携を組むことにした。
The two companies decided to form a business partnership.
クラスでペアを組んで発表する。
We'll pair up in class to give a presentation.
労働組合を組んで待遇改善を求めた。
They formed a labor union to demand better working conditions.
6To arrange type for printing; typesetting.
昔は活字を一つ一つ手で組んで印刷していた。
In the old days, printers set type by hand, piece by piece.
7To issue a money order, bill of exchange, etc.
銀行で送金のために為替を組んだ。
I issued a money order at the bank to send money.