arch

S2 W2

BrE /ɑːtʃ/ AmE /ɑːrtʃ/

noun / verb en → es

past arched pp arched ing arching

1 STRUCTURE [countable] A2

a curved structure that is built to support the weight above it, or a curve in something such as a bridge or doorway

arco, estructura curva

  • an arch over/under sth

Collocations stone arch · doorway arch

  • The bridge is supported by a series of stone arches.

    El puente está soportado por una serie de arcos de piedra.

2 BODY POSITION [intransitive] B1

to raise your eyebrows or the front part of your body in a curved shape, often to show that you are annoyed about something

arquear las cejas/cuerpo

  • arch sth

Collocations arch an eyebrow · arch your back

  • She arched her eyebrows in surprise.

    Arqueó las cejas sorprendida.

3 SHAPE [countable] B1

a curved shape or line that is similar to an arch

arco, curva

  • an arch of sth

Collocations arch of light · arch of smoke

  • The sun created an arch of light across the sky.

    El sol creó un arco de luz en el cielo.

4 HISTORICAL PERIOD [countable] B2

a period in history when a particular ruler or group of rulers was in power

período histórico, reinado

  • the arch of sth

Collocations arch of the Roman Empire · arch of a dynasty

  • The arch of the Tudors was marked by significant cultural changes.

    El reinado de los Tudor estuvo marcado por cambios culturales significativos.

Idioms

under the arch B2

bajo el arco

  • They stood under the arch to take a photo.

    Se pararon bajo el arco para tomar una foto.

arch and run C1

arquearse y correr

  • The cat arches its back and runs away when it's scared.

    El gato arquea su espalda y corre cuando está asustado.

arch one's eyebrows B2

arquearse las cejas

  • She arched her eyebrows when she heard the news.

    Arqueó las cejas cuando escuchó la noticia.