an arched or covered passageway, usually with shops on each side.
an establishment, public area, etc., containing games of a mechanical and electronic type, as pinball and video games, that can be played by a customer for a fee.
an ornamental carving, as on a piece of furniture, in the form of a row of arches.
verb (used with object),ar·cad·ed,ar·cad·ing.
to provide with an arcade.
Origin of arcade
1725–35; < French < Italianarcata arch, equivalent to arc(o) arch (see arc) + -ata-ate1
1731 (as arcado, from 1640s), from Italian arcata "arch of a bridge," from arco "arc," from Latin arcus (see arc). Applied to passages formed by a succession of arches, avenues of trees, and ultimately to any covered avenue, especially one lined with shops (1731) or amusements; hence arcade game (1977).
