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• arch
  arch
• arch-
  arch-

  a combining form that represents the outcome of archi- in words borrowed through Latin from Greek in the Old English period; it subsequently became a productive form added to nouns of any origin, which thus denote individuals or institutions directing or having authority over others of their class (archbishop; archdiocese; archpriest ). More recently, arch-1 has developed the senses “principal” (archenemy; archrival ) or “prototypical” and thus exemplary or extreme (archconservative ); nouns so formed are almost always pejorative.
• -arch
  -arch

  a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,” used in the formation of compound words.
• arch.
  arch.

  abbreviation

  archaic.
• Arch.
  Arch.

  abbreviation

  Archbishop.

arch

¹ American  

[ahrch] / ɑrtʃ /

noun

1. Architecture.

   1. a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening, consisting of a number of wedgelike stones, bricks, or the like, set with the narrower side toward the opening in such a way that forces on the arch are transmitted as vertical or oblique stresses on either side of the opening.

   2. an upwardly curved construction, as of steel or timber functioning in the manner of a masonry arch.

   3. a doorway, gateway, etc., having a curved head; an archway.

   4. the curved head of an opening, as a doorway.

2. any overhead curvature resembling an arch.

3. something bowed or curved; any bowlike part.

   the arch of the foot.

4. a device inserted in or built into shoes for supporting the arch of the foot.

5. a dam construction having the form of a barrel vault running vertically with its convex face toward the impounded water.

6. Glassmaking.

   1. a chamber or opening in a glassmaking furnace.

   2. pot arch.

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verb (used with object)

• arches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arched,
  past participle,  past
• arching
  present participle

1. to cover with a vault, or span with an arch.

   the rude bridge that arched the flood.

2. to throw or make into the shape of an arch or vault; curve.

   The horse arched its neck.

verb (used without object)

• arches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arched,
  past participle,  past
• arching
  present participle

1. to form an arch.

   elms arching over the road.

2. Nautical. hog.

arch ² American  

[ahrch] / ɑrtʃ /

adjective

1. playfully roguish or mischievous.

   an arch smile.

2. cunning; crafty; sly.

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noun

1. Obsolete. a person who is preeminent; a chief.

arch- ³ American  

1. a combining form that represents the outcome of archi- in words borrowed through Latin from Greek in the Old English period; it subsequently became a productive form added to nouns of any origin, which thus denote individuals or institutions directing or having authority over others of their class (archbishop; archdiocese; archpriest ). More recently, arch-1 has developed the senses “principal” (archenemy; archrival ) or “prototypical” and thus exemplary or extreme (archconservative ); nouns so formed are almost always pejorative.

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arch- ⁴ American  

1. variant of archi- before a vowel.

   archangel; archenteron.

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-arch ⁵ American  

1. a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,” used in the formation of compound words.

   monarch; matriarch; heresiarch.

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arch. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. archaic.

2. archaism.

3. archery.

4. archipelago.

5. architect.

6. architectural.

7. architecture.

8. archive; archives.

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Arch. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Archbishop.

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arch ¹ British  

/ ɑːtʃ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) chief; principal; leading

   his arch rival

2. (prenominal) very experienced; expert

   an arch criminal

3. knowing or superior

4. playfully or affectedly roguish or mischievous

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arch. ² British  

abbreviation

1. archaic

2. archaism

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-arch ³ British  

combining form

1. leader; ruler; chief

   patriarch

   monarch

   heresiarch

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arch ⁴ British  

/ ɑːtʃ /

noun

1. a curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening

2. Also called: archway.  a structure in the form of an arch that serves as a gateway

3. something curved like an arch

4. 1. any of various parts or structures of the body having a curved or archlike outline, such as the transverse portion of the aorta ( arch of the aorta ) or the raised bony vault formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones ( arch of the foot )

   2. one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several curved ridges one above the other Compare loop 1 whorl

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verb

1. (tr) to span (an opening) with an arch

2. to form or cause to form an arch or a curve resembling that of an arch

   the cat arched its back

3. (tr) to span or extend over

   the bridge arched the flooded stream

arch- ⁵ British  

combining form

1. chief; principal; of highest rank

   archangel

   archbishop

   archduke

2. eminent above all others of the same kind; extreme

   archenemy

   archfiend

   archfool

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arch Cultural  

1. In architecture, a curved or pointed opening that spans a doorway, window, or other space.

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Usage

What does -arch mean? The combining form -arch is used like a suffix meaning “chief, leader, or ruler.” It is often used in technical terms, especially in sociology. The form -arch comes from Greek árchos, meaning “leader,” and shares a root with the combining form archi-, meaning "first, principal." Discover why at our entry for archi-. What are variants of -arch?While -arch doesn't have any variants, it is related to the form -archy, as in matriarchy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -archy article.

Discover More

The form of arch used in building often serves to distinguish styles of architecture from one another. For example, Romanesque architecture usually employs a round arch, and Gothic architecture, a pointed arch.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• archness
  noun
• archly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• arching
  present
• arched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• arch
  simple
• arches
  simple
• have arched
  perfect
• has arched
  perfect
• am arching
  progressive
• are arching
  progressive
• is arching
  progressive
• have been arching
  perfect progressive
• has been arching
  perfect progressive

Past

• arched
  simple
• had arched
  perfect
• was arching
  progressive
• were arching
  progressive
• had been arching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will arch
  simple
• will have arched
  perfect
• will be arching
  progressive
• will have been arching
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of arch¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arch(e), from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unrecorded), feminine variant of Latin arcus arc

Origin of arch²

First recorded in 1680–90; independent use of arch- ¹

Origin of arch-³

Middle English; Old English arce-, ærce-, erce- (> Old Norse erki- ) < Latin archi- < Greek ( see archi-); but Dutch aarts-, Middle Low German erse-, Middle High German, German Erz- < Medieval Latin arci-, and Gothic ark- directly < Greek. Cf. archangel

Origin of -arch⁵

< Greek -archos or -archēs, as comb. forms of árchos leader; cf. archi-

Explanation

An arch is a shape that resembles an upside down "U." You may find this shape in a carefully tweezed eyebrow or in the famous golden pair that make you hunger for a Big Mac. In architecture, an arch is an opening that is often found supporting the weight of a something above it — like a bridge or a wall. In downtown St. Louis, you can visit the Gateway Arch — a freestanding catenary arch that is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. As a verb, arch means to make an arch-like shape. "She stretched her back by arching it into a backbend." As an adjective, arch can describe something mischievous or sly: "He teased his friend with an arch comment about his shyness around girls."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arch arch- Arch. arches arched arching

Some imagine the ICC to be a judicial superhero, dispensing justice to arch villains around the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Danish pharmaceuticals heavyweight Novo Nordisk said Tuesday it is suing its arch US rival, Eli Lilly, over "false and materially misleading" adverts for their competing weight-loss and anti-diabetes treatments.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

The maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, has launched legal action accusing its arch rival Eli Lilly of false advertising in suggesting its weight-loss drugs perform better.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

A poorly constructed plywood-and-vinyl version of the 166-foot stone arch he has proposed building as a monument to himself was hastily erected — and immediately started falling apart.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

Then with an arch, almost imperial toss of his head, he said, “The Great Santini has spoken.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Holmes and sidekick Dr. John Watson match wits with arch- criminal Moriarty, who plots to create an arms race among European powers.

From BusinessWeek ● Jan. 1, 2012

Mark Sullivan, good Hoover friend and Republican journalist for the arch- Republican New York Herald Tribune, not only announced the end of Depression but said that Recovery was reaching its "second stage."

From Time Magazine Archive

"I should like so much to get into the machine," said the arch- hypocrite demurely.

From The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales With Condensed Novels, Spanish and American Legends, and Earlier Papers by Bret Harte

These secret agents reported that powerful influences were at work to bring about the escape of this arch- criminal.

From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by Edward Lucas White

She never uttered a word of reproach against any one, except against Trochu, whom she called an arch- traitor.

From In the Courts of Memory, 1858 1875; from Contemporary Letters by L. de (Lillie de) Hegermann-Lindencrone

“We’re all very excited for Arch. He seems to be in a really good spot physically, mentally,” manager Kevin Cash said.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2021

Summarized from Servian by Köhler, Arch. f. slav.

From The Grateful Dead The History of a Folk Story by Gordon Hall Gerould

Secondly, Ramsay has been influenced, I think, by his Alpine insects; but he is wrong in thinking that there is any necessary connection of tropics and large insects—videlicet—Galapagos Arch., under the equator.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Sir Francis Darwin

Arch. xii. 383-393; see also Bonavia, "The Sacred Trees of the Assyrian Monuments," Babylonian and Oriental Record, vols. iii, iv, whose conclusions, however, are not always acceptable.

From The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria by Morris Jastrow

Arch. and Eth. papers of the Peabody Museum, vol.

From The Siouan Indians by W. J. (William John) McGee

Inside the monastery, AFP journalists saw cracked arches and partially collapsed stone walls, while the monks' living quarters remained intact.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

This detour is not a clever design, but a historical leftover from our fish-like ancestors when the nerve took a straightforward path around the gill arches.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

Construction has started, with workers assembling domed arches over a staging area which will become the octagon.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Travel writer Christopher Reynolds, a.k.a. the person in the newsroom that everyone goes to for trip advice, tells me, “With its clock tower, big arches and high ceilings, Union Station feels like a secular church.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

The tunnel spiraled gently downward, the ceiling supported by white stone arches that reminded Frank of a whale’s rib cage.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

In one of the living spaces, an artistic arched window provides a picturesque view of the property’s gardens—serving almost as a natural art piece in the space, which also boasts a cozy fireplace.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

Metres away, other photographers yelled instructions to ornately dressed young women who held their fingers in victory signs and arched their backs for the camera.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Then the dusty elephant with those arched and dome-like toenails that is standing on my breastbone is lighter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

The old factory at 120 Jefferson Northeast, a sand-colored brick building with its distinctive arched entryway, had gone out of business, and quickly.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

Even with their differing skin colors, it felt like looking in a mirror: Ivy’s eyebrows were arched just as high as Josie’s own.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

A map of the routes with arrows arching across the country gave the operation its arachnid moniker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025

Tuesday’s home run, hit on an arching line to the left-center-field bullpen, served as a long-awaited first example.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2025

Early risers on California’s Central Coast and parts south may be treated to a brilliant streak of light arching across the sky Thursday morning, followed by a sonic boom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2024

The 15-second clip shows vehicles driving over an arching bridge lit up at night.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2024

Her white hair floated, cloudlike, atop her head, and a delicate pattern of creases fanned across her face like arching fronds, especially when she smiled.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• arc
• archway