arch

1 of 9

noun

ˈärch 

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

: archway

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

a

: mischievous, saucy

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)

1

archaic

2

archery

3

architect; architectural; architecture

Arch

5 of 9

abbreviation (2)

Archbishop

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

-arch

9 of 9

adjective combining form

: 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."

Synonyms

Noun

• angle
• arc
• bend
• bow
• crook
• curvature
• curve
• inflection
• turn
• wind

Verb

• bend
• bow
• crook
• curve
• hook
• swerve

Adjective

• big
• capital
• cardinal
• central
• chief
• dominant
• first
• foremost
• grand
• great
• greatest
• highest
• key
• leading
• main
• master
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• overbearing
• overmastering
• overriding
• paramount
• predominant
• preeminent
• premier
• primal
• primary
• principal
• prior
• sovereign
• sovran
• supreme

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

The first blast took place Feb. 15 on the steel-truss bridge with its recognizable triple arches — the former Broadway Bridge renamed after the KC sports legend. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

Now available via Heritage, the hardwood table features gothic arches, fairies, and gargoyles. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024

Minimalist and barefoot shoes can strengthen muscles and bones in the feet and ankles, which can help prevent injury, stabilize the arch, and help prevent some athletic injuries. —Alisha McDarris, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024

Based On Extensive Testing To give the Forester a more aggressive stance, the body panels have been lifted over the wheel arches and smoothed around the headlamps. —Peter Lyon, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Above this grass, trace half of a bowl to make a rainbow arch. —Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024

Today, scores of tents spread out just beyond the building’s stately arches and wide patios. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024

While there are hundreds of these sites throughout the park, the most impressive is Cliff Palace, pictured above, which lies in the shadow of a magnificent rock arch. —Adam Lapetina, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024

Then Aaron Choate walks to the center of the stage, ponytail swinging, and arches under a spotlight topped with a strobe flash. —Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

Verb

Long arching stems hold long panicles that attract butterflies to your yard. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024

Keep your core, butt, and quads tight, and avoid arching your back. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024

This busy road eventually arches into the bridge, which deposits you in Jacob Riis Park and its bright stretch of beach. —Francesca Carington, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2024

The toss wasn't a typical arching loop that most players launch into the stands, the lawsuit claimed. —David K. Li, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2023

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

Adjective

The Cannes audience gave the series a warm reception, responding to the show’s arch humor, 1950s retro style and occasional OTT violence, elements faithfully adapted from the video game. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2024

But Take Note Our tester pointed out that these really don’t have arch support. —Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024

Colo-Colo’s arch rival is the Universidad de Chile club — also based in Santiago. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024

Everett writes him and, for that matter, the entire novel with a precise, arch, yet extravagant and brilliant sense of style. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2024

There’s so many reasons why Maas has captured the imagination of millions of readers, but to reduce those factors to an arch smirk is infuriating. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2024

Cruyff’s signing was also an early sign as well of Catalonia’s headlong dash for modernity, after obliteration under arch conservative Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. —John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024

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

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

Phrases Containing arch

• proscenium arch
• Gothic arch
• neural arch
• gill arch
• arch of the aorta
• aortic arch
• Tudor arch
• vertebral arch
• zygomatic arch
• horseshoe arch
• lancet arch

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Kids Definition

arch

1 of 4 noun

ˈärch 

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

: archway

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

ˈärch 

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

b

: arch of the aorta

2

: a fingerprint in which all the ridges run from side to side and make no backward turn