Arc

/ɑːk/ · noun

Meaning

(astronomy) That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon..

Definitions by Sense

1. (astronomy) That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon.
2. (geometry) 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. (electrics) A flow of current across an insulating medium; especially a hot, luminous discharge either between two electrodes or as lightning.
6. (narratology) Ellipsis of story arc.
7. (mathematics) A continuous mapping from a real interval (typically [0, 1]) into a space.
8. (graph theory) A directed edge.

Example Sentences

The arc of a circle may be very little, but, given that, it is possible to construct the entire figure.

For while most comics have designated entry points into the story in the form of arcs, Homestuck is one elaborate, self-referencing inside joke collapsed inside its own funhouse mirror reflection.

For all practical purposes the old carbon arcs, which were the backbone of film lighting, are no longer used.

A warring bloodhunter detected it and skillfully arced his sword through its spinal column before it could return to follow through with its attack.

Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.

The big wheel in the sky He arcs o'er miles and miles

His mother, her eyes raised to heaven, hands arked before her, moving, made real for John that patience, that endurance, that long suffering, which he had read in the Bible and found so hard to image.

Synonyms for arc

Antonyms for arc

Related Words

Word Forms

• arcs
• arcing
• arcking
• arced
• arcked

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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