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arcus

American  
[ahr-kuhs] / ˈɑr kəs /

noun

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


Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

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

Ibi arcus et cætera omnia plana utpote sculpta secure et non scisello, his in omnibus fere sculptura idonea.

From The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture, Elucidated by Question and Answer, 4th ed. by Bloxam, Matthew Holbeche

"Papa brevis vox est, sed virtus nominis hujus Perlustrat quiequid arcus uterque tenet."

From Notes and Queries, Number 45, September 7, 1850 by Various

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