arch

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: ärch, IPA ^(key): /ɑrt͡ʃ/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɑːt͡ʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular arch

Plural arches

A stone arch as the door to a cathedral.

1. A semi-circle shape, like an inverted "U".

   Robert drew an arch on the paper.

2. Any object having the shape of an arch, from stone bridges and doorways to bows.

   They went through the arch into the church.

3. A part of the foot, on the bottom, which is shaped like an arch.

   She stepped on a nail and hurt the arch of her foot.

Parts of the foot (edit)

arch - back or top - ball - heel - instep - nail or toenail - sole - toe

Nearby parts: ankle - calf

Verb

Plain form arch

Third-person singular arches

Past tense arched

Past participle arched

Present participle arching

1. To make into the shape of an arch.

   The cat arched its back.

Prefix

Prefix arch-

1. Arch added to the start of a word signifies it is important or the most important

   An archbishop is a senior bishop.

   Comic-book villains may be an arch-enemy.