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arch

An arch is a shape that resembles an upside down "U." You may find this shape in a carefully tweezed eyebrow or in the famous golden pair that make you hunger for a Big Mac.

In architecture, an arch is an opening that is often found supporting the weight of a something above it — like a bridge or a wall. In downtown St. Louis, you can visit the Gateway Arch — a freestanding catenary arch that is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. As a verb, arch means to make an arch-like shape. "She stretched her back by arching it into a backbend." As an adjective, arch can describe something mischievous or sly: "He teased his friend with an arch comment about his shyness around girls."

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: arch

1	n v	(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it form an arch or curve
2	adj	(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: arch

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

Types:: show 30 types...; hide 30 types...; abutment arch
an arch supported by an abutment; broken arch
an arch with a gap at the apex; the gap is usually filled with some decoration; camber arch
an arch with a straight horizontal extrados and a slightly arched intrados; corbel arch
(architecture) an arch constructed of masonry courses that are corbelled until they meet; flat arch, straight arch
an arch with mutually supporting voussoirs that has a straight horizontal extrados and intrados; pier arch
an arch supported on piers; pointed arch
an arch with a pointed apex; characteristic of Gothic architecture; proscenium arch
the arch over the opening in the proscenium wall; rampant arch
an arch whose support is higher on one side than on the other; round arch
an arch formed in a continuous curve; characteristic of Roman architecture; rowlock arch
an arch that is formed with more than one concentric row of voussoirs; safety arch
an undecorated arch that is included in order to strengthen or support a construction; scoinson arch, sconcheon arch
an arch that supports part of the wall; segmental arch
a shallow arch; an arch that is less than a semicircle; shouldered arch
an arch consisting of a horizontal lintel supported at each end by corbels that project into the aperture; diminished arch, scheme arch, skeen arch, skene arch
an arch whose height is less than half its width; skew arch
an arch whose jambs are not at right angles with the face; squinch
a small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire); trimmer arch
an arch built between trimmers in a floor (to support the weight of a hearth); triumphal arch
a monumental archway; usually they are built to commemorate some notable victory; Tudor arch, four-centered arch
a low elliptical or pointed arch; usually drawn from four centers; bell arch
a round arch resting on corbels; drop arch
a blunt pointed arch drawn from two centers within the span; Gothic arch
a pointed arch; usually has a joint (instead of a keystone) at the apex; Moorish arch, horseshoe arch
a round arch that widens before rounding off; keel arch, ogee arch
a pointed arch having an S-shape on both sides; Roman arch, semicircular arch
a round arch drawn from a single center; basket-handle arch, three-centered arch
a round arch whose inner curve is drawn with circles having three centers; trefoil arch
a pointed arch having cusps in the intrados on either side of the apex; trumpet arch
a conical squinch

Type of:: construction, structure
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

n a passageway under a curved masonry construction

“they built a triumphal arch to memorialize their victory”

Synonyms:: archway

Type of:: entrance, entranceway, entree, entry, entryway
something that provides access (to get in or get out)

n a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

Type of:: curve, curved shape
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes

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

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; metatarsal arch
the short lateral arch formed by the heads of the metatarsals; instep
the arch of the foot; pectoral arch, shoulder girdle
the bony arch formed by the collarbones and shoulder blades in humans; haemal arch, hemal arch
a structure arising ventrally from a vertebral centrum and enclosing the caudal blood vessels; neural arch, vertebral arch
a structure arising dorsally from a vertebral centrum and enclosing the spinal cord; fallen arch, sunken arch
an instep flattened so the entire sole rests on the ground

Type of:: skeletal structure
any structure created by the skeleton of an organism

v form an arch or curve

“her back arches”

Synonyms:: arc, curve

Types:: camber
curve upward in the middle

Type of:: bend, flex
form a curve

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

Synonyms:: condescending, patronising, patronizing

: superior
of or characteristic of high rank or importance

adj naughtily or annoyingly playful

Synonyms:: impish, implike, mischievous, pixilated, prankish, puckish, wicked

: playful
full of fun and high spirits

adj expert in skulduggery

“an arch criminal”

Synonyms: skilled
having or showing or requiring special skill

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