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arch

noun · verb · adjective

Simple meaning

An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

ahrch
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈɑɹtʃ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.

  2. A natural arch-shaped opening in a rock mass.

  3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway.

  4. architecture

    An architectural element having the shape of an arch

  5. A curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

  6. An inverted U shape.

verb

  1. Form an arch or curve

  2. transitive

    To form into an arch shape.

  3. transitive

    To cover with an arch or arches.

adjective

  1. Principal; primary.

  2. Knowing, clever, mischievous.

  3. ireland

    Cute, sly, prematurely wise.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.

Used this way, arch is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use arch

  • “A beautiful stone arch marks the entrance to the old garden.”

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Curved / masonry

proscenium arch

Architectural

pointed arch

Other combinations

aortic archtriumphal archdental archneural archroyal archarch gen

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • archernounInflected form

    A person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow.

  • archedadjectiveInflected form

    Constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches.

Word family

Words built from the same root.

  • archeologynounScientific field · specialist

    The branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures.

  • archivenounDerived noun · specialist

    A depository containing historical records and documents.

  • archeologicaladjectiveDerived adjective

    Related to An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • arches national parknounCompound term

    A national park in Utah including mountains and the Colorado River gorge and huge rock formations caused by erosion.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.