˜yÐÄvlog

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

arch

1

[ ahrch ]

noun

  1. Architecture.
    1. a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening, consisting of a number of wedgelike stones, bricks, or the like, set with the narrower side toward the opening in such a way that forces on the arch are transmitted as vertical or oblique stresses on either side of the opening.
    2. an upwardly curved construction, as of steel or timber functioning in the manner of a masonry arch.
    3. a doorway, gateway, etc., having a curved head; an archway.
    4. the curved head of an opening, as a doorway.
  2. any overhead curvature resembling an arch.
  3. something bowed or curved; any bowlike part:

    the arch of the foot.

  4. a device inserted in or built into shoes for supporting the arch of the foot.
  5. a dam construction having the form of a barrel vault running vertically with its convex face toward the impounded water.
  6. Glassmaking.
    1. a chamber or opening in a glassmaking furnace.

verb (used with object)

  1. to cover with a vault, or span with an arch:

    the rude bridge that arched the flood.

  2. to throw or make into the shape of an arch or vault; curve:

    The horse arched its neck.

verb (used without object)

  1. to form an arch:

    elms arching over the road.

  2. Nautical. hog ( def 14 ).

arch-

2
  1. a combining form that represents the outcome of archi- in words borrowed through Latin from Greek in the Old English period; it subsequently became a productive form added to nouns of any origin, which thus denote individuals or institutions directing or having authority over others of their class ( archbishop; archdiocese; archpriest ). More recently, arch-1 has developed the senses “principal†( archenemy; archrival ) or “prototypical†and thus exemplary or extreme ( archconservative ); nouns so formed are almost always pejorative.

arch

3

[ ahrch ]

adjective

  1. playfully roguish or mischievous:

    an arch smile.

noun

  1. Obsolete. a person who is preeminent; a chief.

arch-

4
  1. variant of archi- before a vowel:

    archangel; archenteron.

-arch

5
  1. a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,†used in the formation of compound words:

    monarch; matriarch; heresiarch.

arch.

6

abbreviation for

  1. archaic.
  2. archaism.
  3. archery.
  4. archipelago.
  5. architect.
  6. architectural.
  7. architecture.
  8. archive; archives.

Arch.

7

abbreviation for

  1. Archbishop.

arch-

1

combining_form

  1. chief; principal; of highest rank

    archbishop

    archduke

    archangel

  2. eminent above all others of the same kind; extreme

    archenemy

    archfool

    archfiend

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

arch.

2

abbreviation for

  1. archaic
  2. archaism
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

-arch

3

combining form

  1. leader; ruler; chief

    patriarch

    monarch

    heresiarch

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

arch

4

/ ɑ˳Ùʃ /

noun

  1. a curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening
  2. Also calledarchway a structure in the form of an arch that serves as a gateway
  3. something curved like an arch
    1. any of various parts or structures of the body having a curved or archlike outline, such as the transverse portion of the aorta ( arch of the aorta ) or the raised bony vault formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones ( arch of the foot )
    2. one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several curved ridges one above the other Compare loop 1 whorl
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to span (an opening) with an arch
  2. to form or cause to form an arch or a curve resembling that of an arch

    the cat arched its back

  3. tr to span or extend over

    the bridge arched the flooded stream

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

arch

5

/ ɑ˳Ùʃ /

adjective

  1. prenominal chief; principal; leading

    his arch rival

  2. prenominal very experienced; expert

    an arch criminal

  3. knowing or superior
  4. playfully or affectedly roguish or mischievous
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

arch

  1. In architecture, a curved or pointed opening that spans a doorway, window, or other space.
Discover More

Notes

The form of arch used in building often serves to distinguish styles of architecture from one another. For example, Romanesque architecture usually employs a round arch, and Gothic architecture, a pointed arch.
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈ²¹°ù³¦³ó²Ô±ð²õ²õ, noun
  • ˈ²¹°ù³¦³ó±ô²â, adverb
Discover More

˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of arch1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arch(e), from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unrecorded), feminine variant of Latin arcus arc

Origin of arch2

Middle English; Old English arce-, ærce-, erce- (> Old Norse erki- ) < Latin archi- < Greek ( archi- ); but Dutch aarts-, Middle Low German erse-, Middle High German, German Erz- < Medieval Latin arci-, and Gothic ark- directly < Greek. archangel

Origin of arch3

First recorded in 1680–90; independent use of arch- 1

Origin of arch4

< Greek -archos or -²¹°ù³¦³óŧ²õ, as comb. forms of á°ù³¦³ó´Ç²õ leader; archi-
Discover More

˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of arch1

ultimately from Greek arkhi-, from arkhein to rule

Origin of arch2

from Greek -²¹°ù°ì³óŧ²õ, from arkhein to rule; compare arch-

Origin of arch3

C14: from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unattested), from Latin arcus bow, arc

Origin of arch4

C16: independent use of arch-

Advertisement

Related ˜yÐÄvlogs

Discover More

˜yÐÄvlogs That Use -arch

What does -arch mean?

The combining form -arch is used like a suffix meaning “chief, leader, or ruler.†It is often used in technical terms, especially in sociology.

The form -arch comes from Greek á°ù³¦³ó´Ç²õ, meaning “leader,†and shares a root with the combining form archi-, meaning “first, principal.†Discover why at our entry for archi-.

What are variants of -arch?

While -arch doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the form , as in matriarchy. Want to know more? Read our ˜yÐÄvlogs That Use -archy article.

Examples of -arch

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -arch ¾±²õÌýmatriarch, “the female head of a family or tribal line.â€

Matri- is a form that means “mother,†from Latin ³¾Äå³Ù±ð°ù, while the -arch portion of the word means “leader.†Matriarch literally translates to “mother-leader.â€

What are some words that use the equivalent of the combining form -arch in Greek?

What are some other forms that -arch may be commonly confused with?

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -arch, such as diarch, is necessarily using the combining form -arch to denote “leader.†Learn about the botanical term diarch at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form mon- means “alone, single.†With this in mind, what does monarch literally mean?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Browse

  • #
  • aa
  • bb
  • cc
  • dd
  • ee
  • ff
  • gg
  • hh
  • ii
  • jj
  • kk
  • ll
  • mm
  • nn
  • oo
  • pp
  • qq
  • rr
  • ss
  • tt
  • uu
  • vv
  • ww
  • xx
  • yy
  • zz