What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Arch vs Curvature - What's the difference?

arch | curvature |

As nouns the difference between arch and curvature

is that arch is (senseid)an inverted u shape or arch can be (obsolete) a chief while curvature is the shape of something curved.

As a verb arch

is to form into an arch shape.

As an adjective arch

is (senseid) knowing, clever, mischievous.

arch

English

(wikipedia arch) (commons)

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • (senseid)An inverted U shape.
  • An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.
  • (senseid)(architecture) An architectural element having the shape of an arch
  • Any place covered by an arch; an archway.
  • to pass into the arch of a bridge
  • (archaic, geometry) An arc; a part of a curve.
  • References
    *

    Verb

  • To form into an arch shape
  • The cat arched its back
  • To cover with an arch or arches.
  • Etymology 2

    From the prefix . "Principal" is the original sense; "mischievous" is via onetime frequent collocation with rogue, knave, etc.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (senseid) Knowing, clever, mischievous.
  • I attempted to hide my emotions, but an arch remark escaped my lips.
  • * Tatler
  • [He] spoke his request with so arch a leer.
  • * 1906 , O. Henry,
  • A certain melancholy that touched her countenance must have been of recent birth, for it had not yet altered the fine and youthful contours of her cheek, nor subdued the arch though resolute curve of her lips.
  • *
  • Lassiter ended there with dry humor, yet behind that was meaning. Jane blushed and made arch eyes at him.
  • Principal; primary.
  • * Shakespeare
  • the most arch act of piteous massacre
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) A chief.
  • * Shakespeare
  • My worthy arch and patron comes to-night.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    curvature

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The shape of something curved.
  • (mathematics) The extent to which a subspace is curved within a metric space.
  • The extent to which a Riemannian manifold is intrinsically curved.