ARC

¹

[ ahrk ]

noun

1. Pathology. AIDS-related complex.

ARC

²

or A.R.C.

abbreviation for

1. American Red Cross.

arc

³

[ ahrk ]

noun

1. Geometry. any unbroken part of the circumference of a circle or other curved line.
2. Also called electric arc. Electricity. a luminous bridge formed in a gap between two electrodes. Compare spark ¹( def 2 ).
3. Astronomy. the part of a circle representing the apparent course of a heavenly body.
4. anything bow-shaped.

verb (used without object)

arced or arcked, arcing or arcking.

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

ARC

¹

abbreviation for

1. 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

arc

²

/ ɑːk /

noun

1. something curved in shape
2. part of an unbroken curved line
3. a luminous discharge that occurs when an electric current flows between two electrodes or any other two surfaces separated by a small gap and a high potential difference
4. astronomy a circular section of the apparent path of a celestial body
5. maths a section of a curve, graph, or geometric figure

verb

1. intr to form an arc

prefix

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

arc

/ ärk /

1. A segment of a circle.
2. See electric arc

Word History and Origins

Origin of ARC¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ARC¹

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

Example Sentences

Jacoby ultimately affirmed that a proper Fourth Amendment inquiry must account for the whole arc of events, including whether the officer’s actions created the peril later invoked to justify force.

From Slate

The court now has the opportunity to clarify that the Constitution applies to the full arc of a seizure and not just its final seconds.

From Slate

Keeping in mind the arc of the narrative, Saxon realized the imagined life form needed to fit in a backpack to travel with Yuri wherever she goes.

From Los Angeles Times

Donnie Wahlberg, whom Duong worked with across a “Blue Bloods” three-season arc, told him to be prepared for an upcoming spinoff.

From Los Angeles Times

Someone must have had a hunch that the audience will have very strong feelings about the way this arc lands.

From Salon

Related Words

• arch