arch
nounverbadjectivenounnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɑːt͡ʃ//
- United Kingdom//ɑːk//
- United States//ɑɹt͡ʃ//
- United States//ɑɹk//
An inverted U shape.
noun
- 1
An inverted U shape.
- 2
An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.
- 3
An architectural element having the shape of an arch
- 4
Any place covered by an arch; an archway.
to pass into the arch of a bridge
- 5
archaicAn arc; a part of a curve.
- 6
A natural arch-shaped opening in a rock mass.
- 7
The curved part of the bottom of a foot.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷos Proto-Italic *arkuos Latin arcus Old French arc Old French archebor. Middle English arch English arch From Middle English arch, arche, from Old French arche (“an arch”), a feminine form of arc, from Latin arcus (“a bow, arc, arch”). Doublet of arc and arco. Displaced native Old English bīeġels and Old English hwealf.
verb
- 1
To form into an arch shape.
The cat arched its back.
GBR will either be letting operating contracts or running rail companies directly, depending on which party wins the next General Election. Whichever it is, you can be forgiven for arching an eyebrow at an infrastructure company being placed in overall control.
- 2
To cover with an arch or arches.
adjective
- 1
Knowing, clever, mischievous.
I attempted to hide my emotions, but an arch remark escaped my lips.
[He] spoke his request with so arch a leer.
I was every day furniſhing the Court with ſome ridiculous Story; and Glumdalclitch, although ſhe loved me to Exceſs, yet was arch enough to inform the Queen, whenever I committed any Folly that ſhe thought would be diverting to her Majeſty.
“Oh!” cried Mrs. Green, with an arch laugh, “you are acquainted with Monsieur Margot, then?”
- 2
Cute, sly, prematurely wise.
- 3
Principal; primary.
They were arch enemies.
the most arch act of piteous massacre
Challenger the super scientist, Challenger the arch-pioneer, Challenger the first man of all men whom Mother Earth had been compelled to recognize.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ergʰ-der.? Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-)der. Latin archi-bor. Old English arċe- Middle English arch- English arch- English arch From the prefix arch-. "Principal" is the original sense; "mischievous" is via onetime frequent collocation with rogue, knave, etc.
noun
- 1
obsoleteA chief.
My worthy arch and patron comes to-night.
- 2
Synonym of god (“person who owns and runs a multi-user dungeon”).
noun
- 1
An architecture; a computer architecture or instruction set architecture.
In the Linux kernel, arch-specific code lives in the arch directory of the source tree.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ergʰ-der.? Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-) Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-ō Proto-Indo-European *tétḱō Proto-Hellenic *téktōn Ancient Greek τέκτων (téktōn) Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn)bor. Latin architectus Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Latin architectūralbor. French architecturebor. English architectureclip. English arch Clipping of architecture.
Forms
- plural
- arches
- comparative
- archer
- superlative
- archest
- past tense
- arched
- past participle
- arched
- present participle
- arching
- third person singular
- arches