Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

5 VERB If you arch your eyebrows or if they arch , you move them upwards as a way of showing surprise or disapproval. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] 'Oh really?' he said, arching an eyebrow. [Also V ]

6 → see also arched

arch- /ɑː ^r tʃ-/ COMB Arch- combines with nouns referring to people to form new nouns that refer to people who are extreme examples of something. For example, your arch-rival is the rival you most want to beat. □  …his arch-enemy.

ar|chae|ol|ogy /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒi/ also archeology N‑UNCOUNT Archaeology is the study of the societies and peoples of the past by examining the remains of their buildings, tools, and other objects. ●  ar|chaeo|logi|cal /ɑː ^r kiəlɒ dʒ I k ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □  …one of the region's most important archaeological sites. ●  ar|chae|olo|gist /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒ I st/ (archaeologists ) N‑COUNT □  The archaeologists found a house built around 300 BC.

ar|cha|ic /ɑː ^r ke I I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Archaic means extremely old or extremely old-fashioned. □  …archaic laws that are very seldom used.

arch|angel /ɑː ^r ke I ndʒ ^ə l/ (archangels ) N‑COUNT In the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions, an archangel is an angel of the highest rank.

arch|bishop /ɑː ^r tʃb I ʃəp/ (archbishops ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches, an archbishop is a bishop of the highest rank, who is in charge of all the bishops and priests in a particular country or region. □  …the Archbishop of Canterbury. □  …Archbishop Derek Worlock.

arch|deacon /ɑː ^r tʃdiː kən/ (archdeacons ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE An archdeacon is a high-ranking clergyman who works as an assistant to a bishop, especially in the Anglican church.

arch|dio|cese /ɑː ^r tʃdai əs I s/ (archdioceses /ɑː ^r tʃdai əsiːz/) N‑COUNT An archdiocese is the area over which an archbishop has control.

arched /ɑː ^r tʃt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An arched roof, window, or doorway is curved at the top.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An arched bridge has arches as part of its structure. □  …a fortified arched bridge spanning the River Severn.

ar|che|ol|ogy /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒi/ → see archaeology

arch|er /ɑː ^r tʃə ^r / (archers ) N‑COUNT An archer is someone who shoots arrows using a bow.

ar|chery /ɑː ^r tʃəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Archery is a sport in which people shoot arrows at a target using a bow.

ar|che|typ|al /ɑː ^r k I ta I p ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone or something that is archetypal has all the most important characteristics of a particular kind of person or thing and is a perfect example of it. [FORMAL ] □  Cricket is the archetypal English game.

ar|che|type /ɑː ^r k I ta I p/ (archetypes ) N‑COUNT An archetype is something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing, because it has all their most important characteristics. [FORMAL ] □  Bristling with vigour, he is the archetype of the modern, global chief executive.

ar|che|typi|cal /ɑː ^r k I t I p I k ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Archetypical means the same as archetypal . □  …an archetypical BBC voice.

archi|pela|go /ɑː ^r kipe ləgoʊ/ (archipelagos or archipelagoes ) N‑COUNT An archipelago is a group of islands, especially small islands.

archi|tect /ɑː ^r k I tekt/ (architects )

1 N‑COUNT An architect is a person who designs buildings.

2 N‑COUNT You can use architect to refer to a person who plans large projects such as landscaping or railways. □  …Paul Andreu, chief architect of French railways.

3 N‑COUNT The architect of an idea, event, or institution is the person who invented it or made it happen. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …Russia's chief architect of economic reform.