arc

Meaning

Noun

1. That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon.
2. A continuous part of the circumference of a circle (circular arc) or of another curve.
3. A curve, in general.
4. A band contained within parallel curves, or something of that shape.
5. A flow of current across an insulating medium; especially a hot, luminous discharge between either two electrodes or as lightning.
6. A story arc.
7. A continuous mapping from a real interval (typically [0, 1]) into a space.
8. A directed edge.
9. (slang) The three-point line.
10. An arclight.

Verb

1. To move following a curved path.
2. To shape into an arc; to hold in the form of an arc.
3. To form an electrical arc.

Synonyms

arch

curve

bow

🙇

electric arc

edge

electric discharge

discharge

curvature

spark

bend

vault

semicircle

shape

sweep

trajectory

voltaic arc

warp

half circle

arcus

arc de circle

archway

branch

circular arc

crescent

crossbow

fornix

half-moon

link

🔗

parabola

pommel

rainbow

🌈

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɑːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ark, from Old French arc, from Latin arcus (“a bow, arc, arch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷos (“bow, arrow”). Doublet of arch, arco, and arrow.