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arcus

American  
[ahr-kuhs] / ˈɑr kəs /

noun

Meteorology.

plural

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


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.

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

Porrò Tartari in præcincto expeditionis habent singuli duos arcus, cum magna pluralitate teloram: Nam omnes sunt sagittarij ad manum et cum rigida et longa lancea.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09 Asia, Part II by Hakluyt, Richard

In elderly persons we ought always to look for the arcus senilis, which is a sign of a tendency to fatty degeneration.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various