| 释义 |
arch
I. \ˈärch, ˈȧch\ noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle English arche, from Old French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin arca, from Latin arcus arch, bow, arc — more at arrow
1. archaic : a part of a curve : arc
2. : a typically curved structural member spanning an opening and serving as a support (as for the wall or other weight above the opening) by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal thrust, sometimes consisting of a framed structure similar in construction to a truss, sometimes made up of wedge-shaped solids with their joints at right angles to the curve
3. : a structure or other object having the form of an arch or resembling an arch in form or function: as
a. : either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to and cushion the foot against shock (as in walking, running, leaping):
(1) : a longitudinal arch supported posteriorly by the basal tuberosity of the calcaneus and anteriorly by the heads of the metatarsal bones
(2) : a transverse arch consisting of the metatarsals and 1st row of tarsals and resulting from elevation of the central anterior portion of the median longitudinal arch
b. : one of the fire chambers of a brick kiln; also : the fire chamber in certain kinds of furnaces and ovens
c. : the arched top of a furnace or gas retort
d. : a round transverse bar shaped like an inverted U whose ends form the wheel axles of a row-crop cultivator, the arch providing clearance for the plants as they are cultivated
e. : a fingerprint in which all the ridges run from side to side and make no backward turn — compare loop, whorl
f. : a natural bridge resulting from erosion
g. geology : an upward flexure of sedimentary rocks
< the Cincinnati arch >
: a broad anticline
h. : an arch formed in dancing by raised and joined hands, kerchiefs, or swords by a couple, a pair, or a row of couples for the passage of a soloist or the remaining couples in line
i. : the lengthwise frame piece of a loom beneath which the warp travels and the cloth is woven
j. : the semicircular side plates of a carding machine
k. : a derrick-like device consisting of a metal frame and fairlead mounted on the rear of a tractor or on separate wheels or tracks and used for lifting log ends clear of the ground so as to facilitate their skidding — compare sulky
4.
a. : a curvature having or approximating the form of an arch
< a slight arch to her eyebrows >
< an arch in the cat's back >
b. : the perpendicular distance from the master leaf of a leaf spring to a line drawn through the centers of the spring eyes
5. : a place covered by an arch : archway
 [arch 1: 1 round: imp impost, sp springer, v voussoir, k keystone, ext extrados, int intrados; 2 horseshoe; 3 lancet; 4 ogee; 5 trefoil; 6 basket-handle; 7 Tudor]
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
Etymology: Middle English archen, from arche, n.
transitive verb
1. : to cover or provide with an arch or arches : span with an arch
< a bridge arches the stream >
< the high blue heaven that arches our continent — D.C.Peattie >
2. : to form or bend into the shape of an arch : curve
< arch her eyebrows >
< arch the ball a trifle higher — W.L.Hughes >
intransitive verb
1. : to form into an arch : take the shape of an arch
< trees arch above the promenade — American Guide Series: Maine >
2. : to follow or take an arch-shaped path or course
< the ball arched toward the basket >
< the meteor arched across the sky >
3. dancing
a. : to form an arch by joining hands with the dance partner or neighbor
b. : to place the toe of the free foot against the arch of the supporting foot
III. adjective
Etymology: arch- (I)
1. : most important or outstanding : principal, chief — used attributively usually with a hyphen
< an arch-villain >
< the life of Thoreau as an arch Yankee — H.S.Canby >
2. [arch- (I); from its use as an intensifying prefix in such compounds as archrogue, archwag, whereby some of the semantic range of rogue and wag was extended to the prefix]
a. : characterized by clever or sly alertness
< that arch eye of yours! it sees through everything — Jane Austen >
b. : playfully saucy : roguish
< an arch look >
: having an exaggerated often forced or artificial playfulness
< simpering expressions and arch posturing — Osbert Lancaster >
IV. noun
(-es)
obsolete : one that is preeminent : chief
V. abbreviation
1. archaic
2. often capitalized archbishop
3. archery
4. archipelago
5. architecture
6. archive |