arc

¹arc

noun \ˈärk\

Definition of ARC

1

: the apparent path described above and below the horizon by a celestial body (as the sun)

2

a : something arched or curved b : a curved path <the arc of a fly ball>

3

: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes; also : arc lamp

4

: a continuous portion (as of a circle or ellipse) of a curved line

5

: degree measurement on the circumference of a circle —used especially in the phrase of arc <11 minutes 3 seconds of arc>

6

: a continuous progression or line of development <a story's dramatic arc>

Examples of ARC

1. He bent the twig into an arc.
2. The ball floated in a high arc.

Origin of ARC

Middle English ark, from Anglo-French arc bow, from Latin arcus bow, arch, arc — more at arrow

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ARC

Synonyms: angle, bend, arch, bow, crook, curvature, curve, inflection, turn, wind

Related Words: kink, warp; circle, ring, ringlet, round; coil, curl, curlicue (also curlycue); buckle, convolution, flexure, fold, loop, spiral, swirl, twist, winding; incurvature, reflection; decline, inclination, incline, slope; corner, turnoff; dogleg, hairpin

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Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance

Rhymes with ARC

ark, bark, dark, hark, lark, marc, MARC, mark, Mark, marque, narc, nark, park, Park, quark, sark, shark, spark, stark