Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense arches, present participle arching, past tense, past participle arched
1. countable noun
An arch is a structure that is curved at the top and is supported on either side by a pillar, post, or wall.
2. countable noun
An arch is a curved line or movement.
3. countable noun
The arch of your foot is the curved section at the bottom in the middle.
4. verb
If you arch a part of your body such as your back or if it arches, you bend it so that it forms a curve.
Don't arch your back, keep your spine straight. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
5. verb
If you arch your eyebrows or if they arch, you move them upwards as a way of showing surprise or disapproval.
[literary]
'Oh really?' he said, arching an eyebrow. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
6. verb
If something arches in a particular direction, it makes a curved line or movement.
I gazed up at the domed ceiling arching overhead. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: curve, bridge, bend, bow More Synonyms of arch
7. graded adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An arch look is mysterious and mischievous.
Both of them looked at him with that curious, slightly amused and even arch expression.
archlygraded adverb
She looked at me rather archly.
8. graded adjective
If you say that someone is arch, you are criticizing them for talking or behaving as if they are better or more important than other people.
[disapproval]
Their attempts to be casual have so far just looked arch or patronising.
archlygraded adverb
'You can't fool me,' Shirley said archly.
9. See also arched
More Synonyms of arch
arch-
(ɑːʳtʃ-)
combining form
Arch- combines with nouns referring to people to form new nouns that refer to people who are extreme examples of something. For example, your arch-rival is the rival you most want to beat.
...his arch-enemy.
More Synonyms of arch
arch in British English1
(ɑːtʃ)
noun
1.
a curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening
2. Also called: archway
a structure in the form of an arch that serves as a gateway
3.
something curved like an arch
4.
a.
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)
b.
one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several curved ridges one above the other
Compare loop1 (sense 10a), whorl (sense 3)
verb
5. (transitive)
to span (an opening) with an arch
6.
to form or cause to form an arch or a curve resembling that of an arch
the cat arched its back
7. (transitive)
to span or extend over
the bridge arched the flooded stream
Word origin
C14: from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unattested), from Latin arcus bow, arc
arch in British English2
(ɑːtʃ)
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
Derived forms
archly (ˈarchly)
adverb
archness (ˈarchness)
noun
Word origin
C16: independent use of arch-
arch. in British English
abbreviation for
1.
archaic
2.
archaism
arch- in British English
or archi-
combining form
1.
chief; principal; of highest rank
archangel
archbishop
archduke
2.
eminent above all others of the same kind; extreme
archenemy
archfiend
archfool
Word origin
ultimately from Greek arkhi-, from arkhein to rule
-arch in British English
combining form in countable noun
leader; ruler; chief
patriarch
monarch
heresiarch
Word origin
from Greek -arkhēs, from arkhein to rule; compare arch-
Arch in American English
or arch
1.
archaic
2.
archipelago
3.
architecture
arch in American English1
(ɑrtʃ)
noun
1.
a curved structure, as of masonry, that supports the weight of material over an open space, as in a bridge, doorway, etc.
2.
any similar structure, as a monument
3.
the form of an arch
4.
anything shaped like an arch; specif., an archlike anatomical part
the dental arch, arch of the foot, etc.
verb transitive
5.
to provide with an arch or arches
6.
to cause to take the form of an arch; curve or bend
7.
to span as an arch
verb intransitive
8.
to form an arch
Word origin
ME < OFr arche < ML arca < L arcus, arch: see arc
arch in American English2
(ɑrtʃ)
adjective
1.
main; chief; principal
the arch villain
2.
clever; crafty
3.
gaily mischievous; pert
an arch look
Word origin
< arch-; with changed meaning because of use in archknave, archrogue
arch- in American English
(ɑrtʃ; in `archangel' & its derivatives ɑrk)
main, chief, principal
often used in forming titles of rank
archangel, archenemy; archduke
Word origin
ME arche- < OE arce- < L archi-, arch- < Gr archos, first, ruler < archein, begin, rule
-arch in American English
(ɑrk; occas., ərk)
ruler
matriarch, monarch
Word origin
< Gr archos: see arch-
-arch in American English
suffix
a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,” used in the formation of compound words
monarch
matriarch
heresiarch
Word origin
[‹ Gk -archos or -archēs, as comb. forms of árchos leader; cf. archi-]
Examples of 'arch' in a sentence
arch
The top of the arch houses all the fancy restaurants and bars.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Word lists with
arch
architectural features
In other languages
arch
British English: arch /ɑːtʃ/ NOUN
An arch is a structure which is made when two columns join at the top in a curve.
...railway arches.
American English: arch
Arabic: قَنْطَرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: arco
Chinese: 拱门
Croatian: luk
Czech: oblouk
Danish: bue rundet form
Dutch: boog overspanning
European Spanish: arco arquitectura
Finnish: holvikaari
French: arche
German: Bogen
Greek: αψίδα
Italian: arco
Japanese: アーチ
Korean: 아치
Norwegian: bue
Polish: łuk
European Portuguese: arco
Romanian: arcadă
Russian: арка
Latin American Spanish: arco
Swedish: valvbåge
Thai: ส่วนโค้ง
Turkish: kemer
Ukrainian: арка
Vietnamese: khung vòm
British English: arch VERB
If you arch a part of your body such as your back or if it arches, you bend it so that it forms a curve.