arrow

¹

[ar-oh]

noun

1. a slender, straight, generally pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow and equipped with feathers at the end of the shaft near the nock, for controlling flight.

2. anything resembling an arrow in form, function, or character.

3. a linear figure having a wedge-shaped end, as one used on a map or architectural drawing, to indicate direction or placement.

4. Astronomy.,  Arrow, the constellation Sagitta.

5. broad arrow.

verb (used with object)

1. to indicate the proper position of (an insertion) by means of an arrow (often followed byin ).

   to arrow in a comment between the paragraphs.

Arrow

²

[ar-oh]

noun

1. Kenneth Joseph, 1921–2017, U.S. economist: Nobel Prize 1972.

arrow

/ ˈærəʊ /

noun

1. a long slender pointed weapon, usually having feathers fastened at the end as a balance, that is shot from a bow

2. any of various things that resemble an arrow in shape, function, or speed, such as a sign indicating direction or position

Other Word Forms

• arrowless adjective
• arrowlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English arewe, arwe, Old English earh; cognate with Old Norse ǫr (plural ǫrvar ), Gothic arhwazna; unattested Germanic arhwō (feminine), akin to Latin arcus (genitive arcūs ) “bow, arc”; thus unattested Latin arku- “bow,” and unattested pre-Germanic arku-ā “belonging to the bow”; arc

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrow¹

Old English arwe; related to Old Norse ör, Gothic arhvazna, Latin arcus bow, _arch ¹

Example Sentences

She celebrated her hundred by firing an imaginary bow and arrow.

From BBC

Perhaps these qualities also prepared her to weather the slings and arrows of international NGO leadership and public speaking.

From Salon

However one was found in a black holdall under the teenager's bed, along with a bow and arrows.

From BBC

One unfired round had the words "Hey fascist! Catch!" along with an up, right and three down arrows – mostly likely a reference to a video game, Helldivers 2, indicating one of the game's special moves.

From BBC

A 2-year-old wild donkey stumbled alongside her herd in Riverside County — a bright blue arrow protruding from her right side.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cursor 
• dart 
• missile 
• projectile