arc (ɑːk
)
Definitions
noun
- something curved in shape
- part of an unbroken curved line
- 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
- astronomy a circular section of the apparent path of a celestial body
- mathematics a section of a curve, graph, or geometric figure
verb
Word forms: arcs, arcing, arced, arcs, arcking, arcked
- (intr) to form an arc
prefix
- mathematics specifying an inverse trigonometric function: usually written arcsin, arctan, arcsec, etc, or sometimes sinsin–1, tantan–1, secsec–1, etc
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin arcus bow, archARC
Definitions
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
Usage examples
The third moon rose over the horizon, late and last, its face bisected with an arc of darkness.
, THE GREENSTONE GRAIL: The Sangreal Trilogy One (2004)For me theatre has to be driven by the performance of a live person up there under the arc lights.
India Today (2000)Carleton, which normally shoots 40 % from beyond the three-point arc , hit just 25 % in the first half.
Ottawa Sun (2003)The tradition of lighting up Blackpool's seafront dates from 1879, when just eight arc lamps shone on the prom.
Sun, News of the World (2002)The incision is made either in the arc formed by the natural crease of the upper eyelid, or close to the eyelash line.
, The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)