Arc
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /É‘Ëk/
- Rhymes: -É‘Ë(ɹ)k
- Homophones: ark
Origin
From Middle English, from Old French arc, from Latin arcus ("a bow, arc, arch").
Full definition of arc
Noun
arc
(plural arcs)- (astronomy) That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon. from 14th c.
- (geometry) A continuous part of the circumference of a circle (circular arc) or of an other curve. from 16th c.
- A curve, in general. from 17th c.
- A band contained within parallel curves, or something of that shape. from 17th c.
- (electrics) A flow of current across an insulating medium; especially a hot, luminous discharge between either two electrodes or as lightning. from 19th c.
- A story arc. from 20th c.
- (mathematics) A continuous mapping from a real interval (typically
1 ) into a space. - (graph theory) A directed edge.
Synonyms
- (curve) curve, swoop
- (circular arc) circular arc, circle segment
- (directed edge) arrow, directed edge
Verb
- (intransitive) To move following a curved path.
- 2011, February 4, Gareth Roberts, Wales 19-26 England, Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.
- (intransitive) To form an electrical arc.