Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

arcus

American  
[ahr-kuhs] / ˈɑr kəs /

noun

Meteorology.
  • arcus
    plural
  1. a dense, horizontal, roll-shaped cloud sometimes occurring at the lower front portion of a cumulonimbus.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of arcus

< Latin: bow, arch


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

One evening, ominous, low-lying tube-shaped clouds known as arcus formed, and whitecaps appeared in the waves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

Video shows a shelf cloud - a type of arcus cloud - form before a thunderstorm hit Portland.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2022

To Cassiopeia, she added, “Next time, try pluvius arcus, dear; the meaning is clearer.”

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Moreover, there is the arcus senilis, the fine translucent to opaque circle surrounding the outer portion of the iris.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Louis Marshall Warfield

Du Cange gives arcus sellae equestris as one of the meanings of circus.

From The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of The Celtic Saints by R.A. Stewart MacAlister

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training