plural arcs
1
: the apparent path described above and below the horizon by a celestial body (such as the sun)
2
a
: something arched or curved
b
: a curved path
the arc of a fly ball
c
basketball
: three-point line
At week's end he was shooting 40.0% from behind the arc and averaging 19.6 points.—
Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor3
: 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
1
: to form an electric arc (see arc entry 1 sense 3)
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course
The ball arced across the sky.
: to throw, hit, or kick (something, such as a ball) on a high, arc-shaped course
After driving into the long rough, he reached for a 4-wood and arced the ball just wide of the green.—Jeff Shain
Jeff Shain
mathematics
: inverse sense 2
—used with the trigonometric functions and hyperbolic functions
1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross
ARC
5 of 5abbreviation or noun
plural ARCs
: a copy of a printed work (such as a novel or textbook) sent as a promotion prior to the official release
First, I receive a box of paperback, smaller versions of my book called advance reader copies (ARCs).—Susan Van Kirk
Susan Van KirkWhile some houses like Chronicle Books continued to sell on the show floor, albeit at 50% discount, many publishers offered free ARCs …—Judith Rosen
Judith Rosen
Synonyms
Examples of arc in a Sentence
Noun
He bent the twig into an arc.
The ball floated in a high arc.
Verb
The arrow arced through the air.
A light arced across the sky.
The island chain arcs from north to south.
Recent Examples on the WebMark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2023
The narrative arc, in its dramatic and aesthetic conception, unfolds by showcasing the protagonist’s connection with the ancient inhabitants of the land, Gastaud noted.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023
Following Matthew Perry’s death on Oct. 28, Chandler’s entire Thanksgiving arc hits us even harder.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2023
And that began to inform everything, including some of the arc going forward into season six.
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
Originally released in the UK last year, Wayward delivers far more than that familiar redemption arc.
—Pitchfork, 20 Nov. 2023
Plus, teenagers tend to be just a wee bit changeable, defying a traditional narrative arc.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Nov. 2023
Two other areas of improvement: Opening the game 5 of 6 behind the arc and making nine total after going 5 of 18 at BYU, and holding the Beach to three offensive rebounds after surrendering 25 in the first two games.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
After previously ruling the Citadel, an interdimensional hub of Ricks and Mortys from across the multiverse, Evil Morty is now settled in his personal fortress of solitude, an entire arc compressed into a four-minute cold open.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
The mangled Black Hawk arced across the sky, then disappeared from Tom Satterly's sight.
—Hannah Ray Lambert, Fox News, 3 Oct. 2023
So, for much of the war, Russian warplanes have mostly been used as fast-reacting rocket artillery, briefly popping up from low altitude to release volleys of unguided 80-millimeter S-8 or 122-millimeter S-13 rockets in an arcing trajectory from afar to minimize exposure to short-range air defense.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023
Renata Schmitt, clad in leggings and sneakers, long hair pulled back from her face, squinted at the two ropes that arced toward and away from each other in an eggbeater pattern, blurring through the air of a gym in Southeast D.C.
Schmitt, 52, of Arlington, waited, watched, then jumped in.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 26 July 2023
Seeing that familiar gray-black body arcing through blue Alaska waters is a comfort to those who know her.
—Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2023
Insulating an electrical wire prevents arcing and sparking, and dissipates heat.
—Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
On the point-after attempt (there are no kicks in wheelchair football), Cross tossed an arcing ball to the corner of the end zone.
—Matt Higgins Jalen Wright, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2023
The missile initially arcs on an intercept course making course corrections radio-transmitted by the battery.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2023
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Noun
Point Loma Nazarene’s Luke Smith, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward from Flower Mound, Texas, had 19 points after going 5 of 7 behind the 3-point arc – 14 coming in the first half before the Aztecs switched Butler and other smaller, quicker guards on him.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2023
The narrative arc, in its dramatic and aesthetic conception, unfolds by showcasing the protagonist’s connection with the ancient inhabitants of the land, Gastaud noted.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023
Following Matthew Perry’s death on Oct. 28, Chandler’s entire Thanksgiving arc hits us even harder.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2023
And that began to inform everything, including some of the arc going forward into season six.
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
Originally released in the UK last year, Wayward delivers far more than that familiar redemption arc.
—Pitchfork, 20 Nov. 2023
Plus, teenagers tend to be just a wee bit changeable, defying a traditional narrative arc.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Nov. 2023
Two other areas of improvement: Opening the game 5 of 6 behind the arc and making nine total after going 5 of 18 at BYU, and holding the Beach to three offensive rebounds after surrendering 25 in the first two games.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
After previously ruling the Citadel, an interdimensional hub of Ricks and Mortys from across the multiverse, Evil Morty is now settled in his personal fortress of solitude, an entire arc compressed into a four-minute cold open.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
That suit accused Edison and T-Mobile of failing to properly design, install and maintain equipment, alleging the issues caused arcing amid strong Santa Ana winds and sent sparks into the dry brush.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
The mangled Black Hawk arced across the sky, then disappeared from Tom Satterly's sight.
—Hannah Ray Lambert, Fox News, 3 Oct. 2023
So, for much of the war, Russian warplanes have mostly been used as fast-reacting rocket artillery, briefly popping up from low altitude to release volleys of unguided 80-millimeter S-8 or 122-millimeter S-13 rockets in an arcing trajectory from afar to minimize exposure to short-range air defense.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023
Renata Schmitt, clad in leggings and sneakers, long hair pulled back from her face, squinted at the two ropes that arced toward and away from each other in an eggbeater pattern, blurring through the air of a gym in Southeast D.C.
Schmitt, 52, of Arlington, waited, watched, then jumped in.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 26 July 2023
Seeing that familiar gray-black body arcing through blue Alaska waters is a comfort to those who know her.
—Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2023
Insulating an electrical wire prevents arcing and sparking, and dissipates heat.
—Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
On the point-after attempt (there are no kicks in wheelchair football), Cross tossed an arcing ball to the corner of the end zone.
—Matt Higgins Jalen Wright, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2023
The missile initially arcs on an intercept course making course corrections radio-transmitted by the battery.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arc.' 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 ark, from Anglo-French arc bow, from Latin arcus bow, arch, arc — more at arrow
Adjective
arc sine arc or angle (corresponding to the) sine (of so many degrees)
Abbreviation or noun
advanced reader copy
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
circa 1949, in the meaning defined above
Abbreviation Or Noun
2006, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of arc was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing arc
Dictionary Entries Near arc
Cite this Entry
“Arc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arc. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
arc
1 of 2 noun1
a
: something curved
b
: a curved path
2
: a glowing flow of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
3
: a continuous portion of a curved line (as part of the circumference of a circle)
arc
2 of 2 verb1
: to form an electric arc
2
: to follow an arc-shaped course
Medical Definition
arc
1 of 2 noun1
: an arched or curved anatomical part, distance, or pathway see reflex arc
2
: a sustained luminous discharge of electricity across a gap in a circuit or between electrodes
ARC
2 of 2 abbreviation1
AIDS-related complex
2
American Red Cross
More from Merriam-Webster on arc
Nglish: Translation of arc for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of arc for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arc
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