arrow

Meaning

Noun

1. A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.
2. A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g. →).
3. A directed edge.
4. (colloquial) A dart.
5. The -> symbol, which has specific meanings in various programming languages.
6. The inflorescence or tassel of a mature sugar cane plant.

Verb

1. To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).
2. To let fly swiftly and directly.
3. To develop an inflorescence.
4. To navigate using the arrow keys.

Contraction

Contraction of ever a (sometimes used with a redundant a or an).

Hyphenated as

ar‧row

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæɹəʊ/

Etymology

From Middle English arwe, from Old English earh (oblique form ēarw-), from Proto-West Germanic *arhu, from Proto-Germanic *arhwō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂érkʷo- (“bow, arrow”). Cognate with Faroese ørv (“arrow”), Icelandic ör (“arrow”), örvar (“arrows”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐍈𐌰𐌶𐌽𐌰 (arƕazna, “dart”), Latin arcus (“bow”).