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• arch
  arch
• arch-
  arch-

  a combining form that represents the outcome of archi- in words borrowed through Latin from Greek in the Old English period; it subsequently became a productive form added to nouns of any origin, which thus denote individuals or institutions directing or having authority over others of their class (archbishop; archdiocese; archpriest ). More recently, arch-1 has developed the senses “principal” (archenemy; archrival ) or “prototypical” and thus exemplary or extreme (archconservative ); nouns so formed are almost always pejorative.
• -arch
  -arch

  a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,” used in the formation of compound words.
• arch.
  arch.

  abbreviation

  archaic.
• Arch.
  Arch.

  abbreviation

  Archbishop.

arch

¹ American  

[ahrch] / ɑrtʃ /

noun

1. Architecture.

   1. 

      a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening, consisting of a number of wedgelike stones, bricks, or the like, set with the narrower side toward the opening in such a way that forces on the arch are transmitted as vertical or oblique stresses on either side of the opening.

   2. an upwardly curved construction, as of steel or timber functioning in the manner of a masonry arch.

   3. a doorway, gateway, etc., having a curved head; an archway.

   4. the curved head of an opening, as a doorway.

2. any overhead curvature resembling an arch.

3. something bowed or curved; any bowlike part.

   the arch of the foot.

4. a device inserted in or built into shoes for supporting the arch of the foot.

5. a dam construction having the form of a barrel vault running vertically with its convex face toward the impounded water.

6. Glassmaking.

   1. a chamber or opening in a glassmaking furnace.

   2. pot arch.

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verb (used with object)

• arches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arched,
  past participle,  past
• arching
  present participle

1. to cover with a vault, or span with an arch.

   the rude bridge that arched the flood.

2. to throw or make into the shape of an arch or vault; curve.

   The horse arched its neck.

verb (used without object)

• arches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arched,
  past participle,  past
• arching
  present participle

1. to form an arch.

   elms arching over the road.

2. Nautical. hog.

arch ² American  

[ahrch] / ɑrtʃ /

adjective

1. playfully roguish or mischievous.

   an arch smile.

2. cunning; crafty; sly.

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noun

1. Obsolete. a person who is preeminent; a chief.

arch- ³ American  

1. a combining form that represents the outcome of archi- in words borrowed through Latin from Greek in the Old English period; it subsequently became a productive form added to nouns of any origin, which thus denote individuals or institutions directing or having authority over others of their class (archbishop; archdiocese; archpriest ). More recently, arch-1 has developed the senses “principal” (archenemy; archrival ) or “prototypical” and thus exemplary or extreme (archconservative ); nouns so formed are almost always pejorative.

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arch- ⁴ American  

1. variant of archi- before a vowel.

   archangel; archenteron.

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-arch ⁵ American  

1. a combining form meaning “chief, leader, ruler,” used in the formation of compound words.

   monarch; matriarch; heresiarch.

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arch. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. archaic.

2. archaism.

3. archery.

4. archipelago.

5. architect.

6. architectural.

7. architecture.

8. archive; archives.

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Arch. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Archbishop.

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arch- ¹ British  

combining form

1. chief; principal; of highest rank

   archangel

   archbishop

   archduke

2. eminent above all others of the same kind; extreme

   archenemy

   archfiend

   archfool

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arch ² British  

/ ɑːtʃ /

noun

1. a curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening

2. Also called: archway. a structure in the form of an arch that serves as a gateway

3. something curved like an arch

4. 1. any of various parts or structures of the body having a curved or archlike outline, such as the transverse portion of the aorta ( arch of the aorta ) or the raised bony vault formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones ( arch of the foot )

   2. one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several curved ridges one above the other Compare loop 1 whorl

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verb

1. (tr) to span (an opening) with an arch

2. to form or cause to form an arch or a curve resembling that of an arch

   the cat arched its back

3. (tr) to span or extend over

   the bridge arched the flooded stream

arch. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. archaic

2. archaism

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-arch ⁴ British  

combining form

1. leader; ruler; chief

   patriarch

   monarch

   heresiarch

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arch ⁵ British  

/ ɑːtʃ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) chief; principal; leading

   his arch rival

2. (prenominal) very experienced; expert

   an arch criminal

3. knowing or superior

4. playfully or affectedly roguish or mischievous

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arch Cultural  

1. In architecture, a curved or pointed opening that spans a doorway, window, or other space.

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Usage

What does -arch mean? The combining form -arch is used like a suffix meaning “chief, leader, or ruler.” It is often used in technical terms, especially in sociology. The form -arch comes from Greek árchos, meaning “leader,” and shares a root with the combining form archi-, meaning "first, principal." Discover why at our entry for archi-. What are variants of -arch?While -arch doesn't have any variants, it is related to the form -archy, as in matriarchy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -archy article.

Discover More

The form of arch used in building often serves to distinguish styles of architecture from one another. For example, Romanesque architecture usually employs a round arch, and Gothic architecture, a pointed arch.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• archness
  noun
• archly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• arching
  present
• arched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• arch
  simple
• arches
  simple
• have arched
  perfect
• has arched
  perfect
• am arching
  progressive
• are arching
  progressive
• is arching
  progressive
• have been arching
  perfect progressive
• has been arching
  perfect progressive

Past

• arched
  simple
• had arched
  perfect
• was arching
  progressive
• were arching
  progressive
• had been arching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will arch
  simple
• will have arched
  perfect
• will be arching
  progressive
• will have been arching
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of arch¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arch(e), from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unrecorded), feminine variant of Latin arcus arc

Origin of arch²

First recorded in 1680–90; independent use of arch- ¹

Origin of arch-³

Middle English; Old English arce-, ærce-, erce- (> Old Norse erki- ) < Latin archi- < Greek ( see archi-); but Dutch aarts-, Middle Low German erse-, Middle High German, German Erz- < Medieval Latin arci-, and Gothic ark- directly < Greek. Cf. archangel

Origin of -arch⁵

< Greek -archos or -archēs, as comb. forms of árchos leader; cf. archi-

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Explanation

An arch is a shape that resembles an upside down "U." You may find this shape in a carefully tweezed eyebrow or in the famous golden pair that make you hunger for a Big Mac. In architecture, an arch is an opening that is often found supporting the weight of a something above it — like a bridge or a wall. In downtown St. Louis, you can visit the Gateway Arch — a freestanding catenary arch that is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. As a verb, arch means to make an arch-like shape. "She stretched her back by arching it into a backbend." As an adjective, arch can describe something mischievous or sly: "He teased his friend with an arch comment about his shyness around girls."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arch arch- Arch. arches arched arching

The lyric soprano Katarzyna Wietrzny sings her in an arch scene played for laughs where something more grotesque seems called for.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Others include the construction of a massive White House ballroom that required demolishing the entire historic East Wing, overhauling the Kennedy Center arts venue and plans for an immense triumphal arch.

From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2026

I passed beneath an unobtrusive white arch that, I later learned, uses artificial intelligence to detect weapons and notify guards nearby.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

"The coastline flanking the sea arch has shown signs of instability for years," NPS, which warned in 2021 that the arch would eventually crumble, said in a statement.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

He reached over the stone ledge which divided the arch from the stained-glass windows above and, taking a firm grip, propelled himself upwards and sideways.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Holmes and sidekick Dr. John Watson match wits with arch- criminal Moriarty, who plots to create an arms race among European powers.

From BusinessWeek ● Jan. 1, 2012

Mark Sullivan, good Hoover friend and Republican journalist for the arch- Republican New York Herald Tribune, not only announced the end of Depression but said that Recovery was reaching its "second stage."

From Time Magazine Archive

There should be extradition treaties all over the world to bring this arch- conspirator to justice.

From Vittoria — Volume 2 by George Meredith

The establishment of the arch- confraternity which bears her name, has greatly contributed to the same end.

From The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation by A Religious of the Ursuline Community

The poetry of the arch- priest is very various in tone.

From Handbook of Universal Literature From the Best and Latest Authorities by Anne C. Lynch Botta

“We’re all very excited for Arch. He seems to be in a really good spot physically, mentally,” manager Kevin Cash said.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2021

For numerous gratuitous loans of parish money, see the Mere Acc'ts, Wilts Arch. and Nat.

From The Elizabethan Parish in its Ecclesiastical and Financial Aspects by Sedley Lynch Ware

Ind. and Eastern Arch., vol. i, pp. 380-3, ed.

From Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official by William Sleeman

Many papers on influence of salts on development in Arch. f.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various

On the same day Arch. was arrested and put in jail.

From The Writings of Abraham Lincoln — Volume 1: 1832-1843 by Abraham Lincoln

The car had high wheel arches and soft suspension, letting it travel across a ploughed field or rough roads - as legend would have it, without breaking a tray of duck eggs.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Famously hailed as a “ribbon of light,” the bridge has been dark for more than a year after thieves ripped off more than seven miles of copper wire that helped illuminate its arches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Plans for a Potomac crossing date to before the Civil War, and various monumental arches were proposed in Washington during the late 19th century.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

Those students operate their own real-estate investment business, called Sample Gates Management, named for the Gothic-style limestone arches that are the gateway to the Bloomington campus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Walls, roofs, domes, and arches could rise far higher, but by establishing this one point of commonality the architects ensured a fundamental harmony among the fair’s most imposing structures.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

It is felt most strongly in the memorial garden on the site of the fallen school, and among the white arched monuments of the cemetery.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Steps lead down into the spacious living area, where some of the apartment’s most striking prewar features take center stage, including regal archways, a stately fireplace, and a row of arched leaded-glass windows.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

Metres away, other photographers yelled instructions to ornately dressed young women who held their fingers in victory signs and arched their backs for the camera.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Then the dusty elephant with those arched and dome-like toenails that is standing on my breastbone is lighter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

In front of her, an arched gateway led through mossy walls into some sort of enclosure.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

To enter the painting, we must either scale the long, arching slopes of Rembrandt’s broad torso or, by a leap of faith, dive into the inky blackness of his midsection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

A map of the routes with arrows arching across the country gave the operation its arachnid moniker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025

Early risers on California’s Central Coast and parts south may be treated to a brilliant streak of light arching across the sky Thursday morning, followed by a sonic boom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2024

Strong high pressure is arching north into the Pacific Northwest, keeping Western Washington dry and stable on Friday.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

Finn dropped to the ground, arching his back, trying to make himself breathe, breathe, BREATHE.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

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Related Words

• arc
• archway

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