arch
n. countablen. a curved structure that supports the weight of something above it, like a bridge or a doorway. You can also find this shape in the middle of your foot.
n. a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it. Also refers to the curved inner part of the human foot between the heel and the toes.
The stone arch looks beautiful in the garden.
The runners complained of pain in the arch of their feet after the marathon.
The cathedral's soaring Gothic arches distribute the immense weight of the stone ceiling outward to the buttresses, allowing for much larger windows.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷos Proto-Italic *arkuos Latin arcus Old French arc Old French archebor. Middle English arch English arch From Middle English arch, arche, from Old French arche (“an arch”), a feminine form of arc, from Latin arcus (“a bow, arc, arch”). Doublet of arc and arco. Displaced native Old English bīeġels.
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-)der. Latin archi-bor. Old English arċe- Middle English arch- English arch- English arch From the prefix arch-. "Principal" is the original sense; "mischievous" is via onetime frequent collocation with rogue, knave, etc.
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ρχῐ- (ărkhĭ-) Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-ō Proto-Indo-European *tétḱō Proto-Hellenic *téktōn Ancient Greek τέκτων (téktōn) Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn)bor. Latin architectus Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Latin architectūralbor. French architecturebor. English architectureclip. English arch Clipping of architecture.
Commonly used in architectural contexts or when describing anatomical curves.