# arcade

/ɑɹˈkeɪd/ (US) · /ɑːkˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arcade
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shopping passage

noun · CEFR B2

a covered path or hallway that has shops on both sides.

For teachers: a covered passage, typically with a glass roof, lined with shops or stalls on both sides.

- We walked through the historic arcade to look at the expensive jewelry in the windows.
- The Victorian shopping arcade remains a popular tourist destination, housing boutique stores beneath its ornate iron and glass canopy.

### 2. video game center

noun · CEFR B1

a place where you can pay to play video games and other machines.

For teachers: an establishment containing coin-operated games, especially video games and pinball machines.

- The kids spent all their pocket money at the arcade playing racing games.
- While home consoles have become dominant, the local arcade still attracts teenagers with its immersive rhythm games and social atmosphere.

### 3. row of arches

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a series of arches supported by columns.

For teachers: a succession of arches, each counter-thrusting the next, supported by columns or piers.

- The old church has a beautiful stone arcade along the side of the garden.
- The cathedral's nave is defined by a soaring Romanesque arcade that draws the eye toward the altar.

### 4. to cover with arches

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to build or cover something with a series of arches.

For teachers: to furnish or decorate a structure with an arcade or a series of arches.

- The designer decided to arcade the walkway to provide shade from the sun.
- The architect proposed to arcade the courtyard's perimeter, mirroring the classical motifs found in the original eighteenth-century blueprints.

Usage: Transitive verb; requires a direct object.

Teaching tip: This verb form is rare in modern English; students will mostly encounter the noun form.

## Examples

- We walked through the stone arcade to stay out of the rain.
- The historic shopping arcade features high glass ceilings and several small boutiques along its arched walkway.
- The architect designed a grand arcade that connects the two wings of the museum, providing a sheltered transition for visitors while maintaining a visual link to the courtyard.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.