arc

[ ahrk ]
/ ɑrk /

noun

Geometry. any unbroken part of the circumference of a circle or other curved line.
Also called electric arc. Electricity. a luminous bridge formed in a gap between two electrodes. Compare spark1(def 2).
Astronomy. the part of a circle representing the apparent course of a heavenly body.
anything bow-shaped.

verb (used without object), arced [ahrkt] /ɑrkt/ or arcked, arc·ing [ahr-king] /ˈɑr kɪŋ/ or arck·ing.

to form an electric arc.
to move in a curve suggestive of an arc.

Origin of arc

1350–1400; Middle English ark < Latin arcus bow, arch, curve

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arc

arc ark

Definition for arc (2 of 4)

ARC

or A.R.C.


American Red Cross.

Definition for arc (3 of 4)

ARC
[ ahrk ]
/ ɑrk /

noun

Pathology. AIDS-related complex.

Definition for arc (4 of 4)

Arc, d'
[ dark ]
/ dark /

noun

Jeanne [zhahn] /ʒɑn/. Joan of Arc.

Example sentences from the Web for arc

British Dictionary definitions for arc (1 of 2)

arc
/ (ɑːk) /

noun

verb arcs, arcing, arced, arcs, arcking or arcked

(intr) to form an arc

prefix

maths specifying an inverse trigonometric function: usually written arcsin, arctan, arcsec, etc, or sometimes sin –1, tan –1, sec –1, etc

Word Origin for arc

C14: from Old French, from Latin arcus bow, arch

British Dictionary definitions for arc (2 of 2)

ARC

abbreviation for

AIDS-related complex: an early condition in which a person infected with the AIDS virus may suffer from such mild symptoms as loss of weight, fever, etc

Medical definitions for arc (1 of 2)

arc
[ ärk ]

n.

A curved line or segment of a circle.

Medical definitions for arc (2 of 2)

ARC

abbr.

AIDS-related complex

Scientific definitions for arc

arc
[ ärk ]

A segment of a circle.
See electric arc.