arc

A curved shape or path.

• The ball flew in a high arc.
• She swung the rope in a wide arc overhead.
• Two graceful arcs of water crossed above the fountain.

How to use it: in an arc (The ball flew through the air in an arc.)

Similar words: curve

Common phrases: wide arc, in an arc

A section of the curved line around a circle or along another curve.

• Draw an arc on the paper.
• The arc covers ninety degrees of the circle.
• We measured the lengths of two arcs.

How to use it: an arc of a circle (Draw an arc of a circle with a radius of five centimeters.)

Common phrases: arc of something, circular arc

A bright stream of electricity passing through a gap between two points.

• An electric arc flashed between the wires.
• The welding arc was too bright to look at.
• A damaged cable produced several dangerous arcs.

Similar words: electric discharge

Common phrases: electric arc, welding arc

The curved path that the sun, moon, or a star seems to follow across the sky.

• The sun follows a low arc in winter.
• The astronomer calculated the arc of the star above the horizon.
• Long summer days give the sun a wider visible arc.

Common phrases: diurnal arc, nocturnal arc

To move along a curved path.

• The ball arced through the air.
• Water arced over the flowers.
• A shooting star was arcing across the dark sky.

How to use it: arc over something (The ball arced over the goalkeeper.); arc across something (A jet of water arced across the garden.)

Similar words: curve

Common phrases: arc across something, arc through something, arc over something

When electricity does this, it passes through a gap as a bright stream.

• The damaged wire began to arc.
• Electricity arced across the small gap.
• Current was arcing between the metal contacts.

How to use it: arc between A and B (Electricity arced between the two exposed wires.); arc across something (The current arced across the gap.)

Similar words: spark

Common phrases: arc across something, arc between something