arch — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An inverted U shape.

2. An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.

3. An architectural element having the shape of an arch

4. Any place covered by an arch; an archway.

   Examples

   to pass into the arch of a bridge

5. An arc; a part of a curve.

   Usage

   • Archaic

6. A natural arch-shaped opening in a rock mass.

7. The curved part of the bottom of a foot.

Verb

1. To form into an arch shape.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The cat arched its back.

   More examples (1)

   GBR will either be letting operating contracts or running rail companies directly, depending on which party wins the next General Election. Whichever it is, you can be forgiven for arching an eyebrow at an infrastructure company being placed in overall control.

2. To cover with an arch or arches.

   Usage

   • Transitive

Adjective

1. Knowing, clever, mischievous.

   Examples

   I attempted to hide my emotions, but an arch remark escaped my lips.

   [He] spoke his request with so arch a leer.

   More examples (9)

   I was every day furniſhing the Court with ſome ridiculous Story; and Glumdalclitch, although ſhe loved me to Exceſs, yet was arch enough to inform the Queen, whenever I committed any Folly that ſhe thought would be diverting to her Majeſty.

   “Oh!” cried Mrs. Green, with an arch laugh, “you are acquainted with Monsieur Margot, then?”

   Blanche’s grey eyes gazed at Foker with such an arch twinkle that both of them burst out laughing […]

   A certain melancholy that touched her countenance must have been of recent birth, for it had not yet altered the fine and youthful contours of her cheek, nor subdued the arch though resolute curve of her lips.

   Lassiter ended there with dry humor, yet behind that was meaning. Jane blushed and made arch eyes at him.

   Not trusting filmgoers to catch the drift, Ms. Coppola underscores the women’s attempts to gussy up with snippets of arch dialogue.

   When you're watching a Wes Anderson film, you know it. Within seconds, you spot the symmetrical compositions, the horizontal camera moves, the blocks of garish colour, the san-serif lettering, the arch, wordy, vaguely melancholy humour and all the other elements that distinguish his comedies from everyone else's.

   Ms. Brier specializes in point of view, or P.O.V., videos that confront relatable, often hateable characters, with a subtle sneer, gleefully rubbery body and arch delivery of generational catchphrases like “slay, queen” and “I got you,” often repeated for effect.

   Each meeting is free-flowing and the discussion less arch, less cut-and-thrust than the repartee at parties thrown in the book by the aristocratic `Guermantes family—although Proust teachs you to look for the unspoken in life as in literature.

2. Cute, sly, prematurely wise.

   Usage

   • Ireland

3. Principal; primary.

   Examples

   They were arch enemies.

   the most arch act of piteous massacre

   More examples (1)

   Challenger the super scientist, Challenger the arch-pioneer, Challenger the first man of all men whom Mother Earth had been compelled to recognize.

Noun

1. A chief.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   My worthy arch and patron comes to-night.

2. Synonym of god (“person who owns and runs a multi-user dungeon”).

Noun

1. An architecture; a computer architecture or instruction set architecture.

   Related words

   arc

   Examples

   In the Linux kernel, arch-specific code lives in the arch directory of the source tree.

Adjective

1. (used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

   Synonyms

   condescendingpatronizingpatronising

2. naughtily or annoyingly playful

   Synonyms

   impishimplikemischievouspixilatedprankishpuckishwicked

   Examples

   teasing and worrying with impish laughter

   a wicked prank

Noun

1. a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

   Broader terms

   curvecurved shape

2. a curved bony structure supporting or enclosing organs (especially the inner sides of the feet)

   Broader terms

   skeletal structure

3. a passageway under a curved masonry construction

   Synonyms

   archway

   Broader terms

   entranceentrancewayentrywayentryentree

   Examples

   they built a triumphal arch to memorialize their victory

4. (architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it

   Broader terms

   structureconstruction

Verb

1. form an arch or curve

   Synonyms

   curvearc

   Broader terms

   bendflex

   Examples

   her back arches

   her hips curve nicely