arrow

¹ American  

[ar-oh] / ˈær oʊ /

noun

1. a slender, straight, generally pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow and equipped with feathers at the end of the shaft near the nock, for controlling flight.

2. anything resembling an arrow in form, function, or character.

3. a linear figure having a wedge-shaped end, as one used on a map or architectural drawing, to indicate direction or placement.

4. Astronomy. Arrow, the constellation Sagitta.

5. broad arrow.

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verb (used with object)

1. to indicate the proper position of (an insertion) by means of an arrow (often followed byin ).

   to arrow in a comment between the paragraphs.

Arrow ² American  

[ar-oh] / ˈær oʊ /

noun

1. Kenneth Joseph, 1921–2017, U.S. economist: Nobel Prize 1972.

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arrow British  

/ ˈærəʊ /

noun

1. a long slender pointed weapon, usually having feathers fastened at the end as a balance, that is shot from a bow

2. any of various things that resemble an arrow in shape, function, or speed, such as a sign indicating direction or position

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Other Word Forms

• arrowless adjective
• arrowlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of arrow

First recorded before 900; Middle English arewe, arwe, Old English earh; cognate with Old Norse ǫr (plural ǫrvar ), Gothic arhwazna; unattested Germanic arhwō (feminine), akin to Latin arcus (genitive arcūs ) “bow, arc”; thus unattested Latin arku- “bow,” and unattested pre-Germanic arku-ā “belonging to the bow”; arc

Example Sentences

"But—" Rowan burst out, "it was there! A drawing of the Mountain. And words and arrows . . . and a track marked in red, leading to the cloud and above it! It was!"

From Literature

There were dozens of them, shaped like curling arrows and twisting roots.

From Literature

They paired them with horn-shaped hats designed to protect against enemy arrows and survive the biting cold of the Mongolian steppes—and a trip to Northern Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s even an arrow with the silhouette of a hiker.

From Literature

While he sparred with Mamdani on the campaign trail, Sliwa praised him for wanting to get a cat, noting it will remain loyal even as Mamdani deals with the slings and arrows of political life.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cursor
• dart
• missile
• projectile