Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

arco

adverb or adjective
ar·​co | \ ˈär-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce arco (audio) \

Definition of arco

: with the bow —usually used as a direction in music for players of stringed instruments — compare pizzicato

First Known Use of arco

1806, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for arco

Italian, from arco bow, from Latin arcus — more at arrow

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about arco

Statistics for arco

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for arco

The first known use of arco was in 1806

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on arco

Spanish Central: Translation of arco

Comments on arco

What made you want to look up arco? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

putsch

Listen to the pronounciation of putsch

a secret plot to overthrow a government

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games