arch

1 of 9

noun

1
: a typically curved structural member spanning an opening and serving as a support (as for the wall or other weight above the opening)
2
a
: something resembling an arch in form or function
especially : either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to it
b
: something that has a curved shape like an arch
There was a slight arch in her eyebrows.
an arch in the cat's back
3

Illustration of arch

Illustration of arch
  • 1 round
  • imp impost
  • sp springer
  • v voussoir
  • k keystone
  • ext extrados
  • int intrados
  • 2 horseshoe
  • 3 lancet
  • 4 ogee
  • 5 trefoil
  • 6 basket-handle
  • 7 Tudor

arch

2 of 9

verb

arched; arching; arches

transitive verb

1
: to cover or provide with an arch
A bridge arches the stream.
2
: to form into an arch
She arched her eyebrows.

intransitive verb

1
: to form an arch
Trees arch above the promenade.
2
: to take an arch-shaped course
The ball arched toward the basket.

arch

3 of 9

adjective

1
: principal, chief
your arch opponent/rival
an arch enemy
2
b
: marked by a deliberate and often forced playfulness, irony, or impudence
known for her arch comments
… decided to answer them by being teacherly in a sort of arch, Olympian way.Gerald Early
archness noun

arch

4 of 9

abbreviation (1)

Arch

5 of 9

abbreviation (2)

arch-

6 of 9

prefix (1)

1
: chief : principal
archfiend
2
: extreme : most fully embodying the qualities of the kind
archconservative

arch-

7 of 9

prefix (2)

see archi-

-arch

8 of 9

noun combining form

: ruler : leader
matriarch
: having (such) a point or (so many) points of origin
endarch

Did you know?

As a prefix, arch- appears in a number of titles referring to positions of superiority, such as archduke and archbishop; it can also mean "chief" (as in archnemesis) or "extreme" (archconservative). It comes from the Greek verb archein, meaning "to begin or to rule."

Examples of arch in a Sentence

Noun There was a slight arch to her eyebrows. an arch in the cat's back Verb The cat arched its back. She arched her eyebrows in surprise. A tree arches over the road. She arched backward to begin the exercise. Adjective a politician known for his arch humor The novel is never mocking or arch in its tone.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Behind the arches, inspired by Sonoran architecture, is the border wall and its murals. Sam Lubell, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Our time is spent largely within the resort, an architectural marvel with a spiral staircase, monastic arches, a hammam, and a pool with spherical stone walls. Leila Milgrim, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024 Drivers headed across the Missouri River on Wednesday should plan for delays as crews prepare for the blast planned for Thursday to bring down the north arch of the Buck O’Neil Bridge in the northwest corner of downtown Kansas City. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2024 The often giant, yellow flowering forsythia shrubs bear stems that grow upright as opposed to in an arch. Katelyn Chef, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2024 The overhead set piece is inspired by an arch in New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong Park. Naveen Kumar, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 The trail that leads to an iconic natural sandstone arch has been a big draw for ages. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024 There, under the arch, was a hub for police and social service providers that the city opened to fanfare this week. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Both experts say to consider factors like your foot arch type when choosing the right insole. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024
Verb
The light reflected off the rippling surface of the water, casting undulating lines onto a tree that arched over the pool. Mya Guarnieri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 The road becomes narrow, winding through villages and coconut groves, where palms arch over stone walls. Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024 Devil's Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in Arizona Thousands make the pilgrimage each year to queue up for a photo atop the 50-foot-high arching formation in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness in Coconino National Forest, just a few miles from Uptown Sedona. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024 These arching shrubs sometimes have thorns and can serve as a barrier at the edge of a property. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024 Advertisement Rainmaker Hall is the central meeting space, created inside an old hangar that was once a sweatshop with high, arching beams. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023 Those long, arching fronds work well in hanging baskets or a tabletop terrarium. Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2023 Red and purple lights brought a backdrop of arching tree silhouettes to life while the post-hardcore band dove through its catalog like 21 years had never passed. Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2023 Plush with wayward harmonies and arching vocal lines, the music is dark, moody, and entrancing. Anthony Tommasini, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Though most of these picks are made from cotton, Brooklinen's Tufted Bath Rug earns bonus points for being extra absorbent and dense for arch support. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Mar. 2024 Not to mention that all of that hustling and bustling around The Big Apple calls for reliable arch support and cushioning, which the Cariuma Oca Low Sneakers definitely deliver. Madeline Diamond, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2024 At a time when the industry put a premium on extreme speed, the Hayabusa was the fastest production motorcycle in the world upon its release, taking the honor from arch rival Honda and its Super Blackbird. Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 Set in Lahore, pre-independent India, the lavish period drama turns on arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan who are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Feb. 2024 The night before, Phoenix surrendered 41 points and 11 assists to their arch nemesis, Luka Doncic, losing a pivotal game that decided the tiebreaker with Dallas. Shane Young, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 But when arch rivals scored against their team, super fans also experienced a deactivation of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Christopher Nolan’s biopic of the Manhattan Project nuclear scientist led the pack with 13 nods, while Greta Gerwig’s arch pink fantasia is up for eight. Nr Editors, National Review, 26 Jan. 2024 The iconic triple arch, steel-truss structure opened in 1956 as a toll bridge run by the city. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English arche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *arca, from Latin arcus — more at arrow

Adjective

arch- entry 1

Prefix (1)

Middle English arche-, arch-, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English arce-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-; Anglo-French arch-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-, from Greek arch-, archi-, from archein to begin, rule; akin to Greek archē beginning, rule, archos ruler

Noun combining form

Middle English -arche, from Anglo-French & Late Latin & Latin; Anglo-French -arche, from Late Latin -archa, from Latin -arches, -archus, from Greek -archēs, -archos, from archein

Adjective combining form

probably from German, from Greek archē beginning

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arch was in the 13th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near arch

Cite this Entry

“Arch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

arch

1 of 4 noun
1
: a usually curved part of a structure that is over an opening and serves as a support
2
: something resembling an arch in form or function
especially : either of two portions of the bony structure of the foot that give it flexibility
3

arch

2 of 4 verb
1
: to cover or provide with an arch
2
: to form into an arch
3
: to take an arch-shaped path

arch

3 of 4 adjective
1
: principal, chief
an arch opponent
2
: being clever and mischievous
an arch look
archly adverb
archness noun

arch-

4 of 4 prefix
: chief : principal
archenemy
Etymology

Noun

Middle English arche "arch," from early French arche (same meaning), derived from Latin arcus "bow (weapon)"

Adjective

from arch- (prefix)

Prefix

derived from Greek archein "to begin, rule"

Medical Definition

arch

noun
1
: an anatomical structure that resembles an arch in form or function: as
a
: either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to it:
(1)
: a longitudinal arch supported posteriorly by the basal tuberosity of the calcaneus and anteriorly by the heads of the metatarsal bones
(2)
: a transverse arch consisting of the metatarsals and first row of tarsals and resulting from elevation of the central anterior portion of the median longitudinal arch
2
: a fingerprint in which all the ridges run from side to side and make no backward turn

More from Merriam-Webster on arch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!