Meaning & use
arc
Last updated
A curved line or path, or a sequence of connected events that develops over time.
See it in a sentence
The rocket traced a smooth arc across the night sky before disappearing.
Critics praised the character's emotional arc throughout the trilogy.
A note on using this word
Widely used in geometry for a curved segment of a circle, and in storytelling for the phrase 'story arc' or 'character arc,' describing how something develops from start to finish.
Words with a similar meaning
curvetrajectory
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A luminous discharge of electricity across a gap, as in welding.
The welder struck an arc between the electrode and the metal plate.
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