# ark

/ˈɑɹk/ (US) · /ˈɑːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ark
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Noah's ship

noun · CEFR B2

the large boat that Noah built to save his family and animals from a great flood.

For teachers: the vessel constructed by the biblical figure Noah to preserve his family and pairs of every animal species during the Deluge.

- In the story, the animals entered the ark two by two before the rain started.
- The narrative of the ark serves as a central motif of preservation and divine covenant within the Abrahamic traditions.

### 2. sacred chest

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a holy chest or box, especially the one that held the Ten Commandments.

For teachers: the Ark of the Covenant; the gold-covered wooden chest described in the Book of Exodus as containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.

- The priests carried the ark across the desert during their long journey.
- Historical accounts describe the ark as the most sacred relic of the Israelites, housed within the Holy of Holies.

### 3. synagogue cabinet

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a special cupboard in a synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept.

For teachers: a cabinet or decorative alcove in a synagogue that serves as the repository for the Torah scrolls.

- The congregation stood up as the rabbi opened the ark to remove the scroll.
- The holy ark is typically positioned on the wall of the synagogue that faces toward Jerusalem.

### 4. a place of safety

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a place or thing that gives you protection or safety.

For teachers: a place of protection or security; a refuge or shelter from danger.

- The small library became his ark during the long, lonely winter months.
- For the exiled scholars, the university served as an ark of intellectual freedom amidst the rising political storm.

## Examples

- The story says Noah built a giant ark to survive the flood.
- In the movie, the scientists built a modern ark to save humanity from the rising sea levels.
- The seed vault in the Arctic serves as a botanical ark, preserving the genetic diversity of the world's crops against the threat of global catastrophe or extinction.

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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.