WordGarden.ioarc
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɑːk/
US
- /ˈɑrk/
Meanings
Noun
a curved line or a section of a circle
the development or sweep of a story or character
the overall progression or curve of something over time
More meaningsFewer meanings
a luminous electrical discharge jumping across a gap
Verb
to move or curve in a bow-shaped path
Beyond the definition
Don't confuse this word with the boat Noah built (an ark)! An arc is a curved line that forms part of a circle – think of a rainbow or the graceful sweep of a bridge. But "arc" can also describe the storyline of a movie or book, representing the overall path its events take. A good story has a strong arc, building tension and then resolving it. You might even say someone "followed an unusual life arc," meaning their life took unexpected turns.
Think about throwing a ball – the path it travels through the air is an arc. And in science and everyday talk, an arc can also be a bright, crackling electrical discharge that jumps across a gap (like lightning or the spark in arc welding).
You may also recognize the word in names like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where arc is French for “arch.” The English word comes from Latin (arcus), meaning “bow” or “curve.” So next time you see something gracefully bending, remember the arc of its shape… or its story!
The word "arc" has several fascinating meanings. Many are connected by the idea of a curve or a segment. Most literally, an arc is a portion of a circle – a curved line connecting two points on the circumference. Imagine drawing a semi-circle; that's an arc. You see arcs in architecture (like arches and domes), nature (rainbows, the path of a thrown object), and geometry.
However, "arc" isn't limited to physical shapes. In storytelling, an "arc" refers to the complete journey of a character or plotline. A character's arc describes how they change and develop throughout a story – their growth, struggles, and ultimate transformation. A narrative arc outlines the rise and fall of tension in a story, from exposition to climax to resolution.
You might also hear "arc" used metaphorically to describe someone's life path or career trajectory. "Her career followed an interesting arc" suggests her professional journey wasn't straightforward but had distinct phases and developments.
There’s also an important technical meaning: an electrical arc is a bright, sustained spark that occurs when electricity jumps through the air between two points. You’ll hear it in phrases like arc welding, an arc lamp, or “the wire arced and sparked.”
In measurement, arc shows up in terms like degree of arc, arc length, and (especially in astronomy) arcminute and arcsecond, all tied to angles and the geometry of circles. As a verb, to arc means “to move in a curve” (“the ball arced toward the goal”) or “to form an electrical arc” (“the connection arced”).
Historically, the word comes from the Latin arcus, meaning “bow” or “curve.” So, whether you're describing a geometric shape, a character's development, an electrical discharge, or someone's life journey, "arc" points to motion or structure that bends—sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically, and sometimes with a flash.
Examples
- 1
Path shape
The path curves in a smooth arc around the lake.
- 2
Ball flight
She watched the ball fly in a high arc over the fence.
- 3
Career development
The film traces the arc of his career from local teacher to national leader.
- Patternthe arc of + something
the way it develops over time
- 4
Storytelling
Her character arc feels realistic because she changes slowly, not all at once.
- Phrasecharacter arc
the way a character changes in a story
See also
Forms and spellings
6 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- arcnounverb
Forms
- arcspluralnounverb
- arcing-ing formverbnoun
- arcedpast tensepast participleverbnoun
- arckedpast tensepast participleverbnoun
- arcking-ing formverbnoun