Library / English Dictionary

ARCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("arch" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Meronyms (parts of "arch"):

voussoir (wedge-shaped stone building block used in constructing an arch or vault)

impost; springer (the lowest stone in an arch -- from which it springs)

headstone; key; keystone (the central building block at the top of an arch or vault)

Domain category:

architecture (the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arch"):

four-centered arch; Tudor arch (a low elliptical or pointed arch; usually drawn from four centers)

triumphal arch (a monumental archway; usually they are built to commemorate some notable victory)

trimmer arch (an arch built between trimmers in a floor (to support the weight of a hearth))

squinch (a small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire))

skew arch (an arch whose jambs are not at right angles with the face)

diminished arch; scheme arch; skeen arch; skene arch (an arch whose height is less than half its width)

shouldered arch (an arch consisting of a horizontal lintel supported at each end by corbels that project into the aperture)

segmental arch (a shallow arch; an arch that is less than a semicircle)

scoinson arch; sconcheon arch (an arch that supports part of the wall)

safety arch (an undecorated arch that is included in order to strengthen or support a construction)

rowlock arch (an arch that is formed with more than one concentric row of voussoirs)

round arch (an arch formed in a continuous curve; characteristic of Roman architecture)

rampant arch (an arch whose support is higher on one side than on the other)

proscenium arch (the arch over the opening in the proscenium wall)

pointed arch (an arch with a pointed apex; characteristic of Gothic architecture)

pier arch (an arch supported on piers)

flat arch; straight arch (an arch with mutually supporting voussoirs that has a straight horizontal extrados and intrados)

corbel arch ((architecture) an arch constructed of masonry courses that are corbelled until they meet)

camber arch (an arch with a straight horizontal extrados and a slightly arched intrados)

broken arch (an arch with a gap at the apex; the gap is usually filled with some decoration)

abutment arch (an arch supported by an abutment)

Holonyms ("arch" is a part of...):

aqueduct (a conduit that resembles a bridge but carries water over a valley)

arcade; colonnade (a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns)

bridge; span (a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.)

Derivation:

arch (form an arch or curve)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A passageway under a curved masonry construction

Example:

they built a triumphal arch to memorialize their victory

Synonyms:

arch; archway

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("arch" is a kind of...):

entrance; entranceway; entree; entry; entryway (something that provides access (to get in or get out))

Holonyms ("arch" is a part of...):

wall (an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure)

Derivation:

arch (form an arch or curve)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A curved bony structure supporting or enclosing organs (especially the inner sides of the feet)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("arch" is a kind of...):

skeletal structure (any structure created by the skeleton of an organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arch"):

metatarsal arch (the short lateral arch formed by the heads of the metatarsals)

instep (the arch of the foot)

pectoral arch; shoulder girdle (the bony arch formed by the collarbones and shoulder blades in humans)

haemal arch; hemal arch (a structure arising ventrally from a vertebral centrum and enclosing the caudal blood vessels)

neural arch; vertebral arch (a structure arising dorsally from a vertebral centrum and enclosing the spinal cord)

Derivation:

arch (form an arch or curve)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("arch" is a kind of...):

curve; curved shape (the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes)

Derivation:

arch (form an arch or curve)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Naughtily or annoyingly playful

Example:

a wicked prank

Synonyms:

arch; impish; implike; mischievous; pixilated; prankish; puckish; wicked

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

playful (full of fun and high spirits)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

Synonyms:

arch; condescending; patronising; patronizing

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

superior (of or characteristic of high rank or importance)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Form an arch or curve

Example:

her hips curve nicely

Synonyms:

arc; arch; curve

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "arch" is one way to...):

bend; flex (form a curve)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "arch"):

camber (curve upward in the middle)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

arch ((architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it)

arch (a passageway under a curved masonry construction)

arch (a curved bony structure supporting or enclosing organs (especially the inner sides of the feet))

arch (a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening)

Credits

 Context examples: 

She nodded, with a slightly arch expression, and loosened the scarf at her throat.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A Gothic arched door led to a worn stone staircase.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size, and as several dark ways led from it under great round arches, it perhaps seemed bigger than it really is.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

An arched blood vessel arising from the terminal portion of the radial artery and the ulnar artery located on the bases of the metacarpal bones.

(Deep Palmar Artery, NCI Thesaurus)

One of the four blood vessels arising from the dorsal carpal arch that runs down the posterior side of the second, third, and fourth interosseous muscles of the hand.

(Dorsal Metacarpal Artery, NCI Thesaurus)

As he thundered forth his war-cry, the Jacks who had been gathering before the black arch of the gateway rushed in madly in a desperate effort to carry the staircase.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When the flame burned up, we saw an arched stone roof above our heads, and broad deal shelves all round us covered with dusty dishes.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The arched strip of hair on the bony ridge above each eye socket.

(Eyebrow, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes eyes absent homolog 1 protein, may be involved in the development of the eyes, ears, branchial arches and kidney.

(EYA1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

The feet are round and cat-like with tight, arched toes.

(English Cocker Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)