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Arch vs Tunnel - What's the difference?

arch | tunnel |

As nouns the difference between arch and tunnel

is that arch is (inverted U shape)An inverted U shape while tunnel is an underground or underwater passage.

As verbs the difference between arch and tunnel

is that arch is to form into an arch shape while tunnel is to make a tunnel through or under something, to burrow.

As an adjective arch

is (knowing) 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

    * ----

    tunnel

    English

    (wikipedia tunnel)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An underground or underwater passage.
  • A passage through or under some obstacle.
  • * 1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)
  • But very soon he grew to like it, for the Boy used to talk to him, and made nice tunnels for him under the bedclothes that he said were like the burrows the real rabbits lived in.
  • A hole in the ground made by an animal, a burrow.
  • (computing, networking) A wrapper for a protocol that cannot otherwise be used because it is unsupported, blocked, or insecure.
  • A vessel with a broad mouth at one end, a pipe or tube at the other, for conveying liquor, fluids, etc., into casks, bottles, or other vessels; a funnel.
  • The opening of a chimney for the passage of smoke; a flue.
  • * Spenser
  • And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thence / The smoke forth threw.
  • (mining) A level passage driven across the measures, or at right angles to veins which it is desired to reach; distinguished from the drift'', or ''gangway , which is led along the vein when reached by the tunnel.
  • Verb

  • To make a tunnel through or under something, to burrow.
  • To make a tunnel.