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Vault vs Arch - What's the difference?

vault | arch |

As nouns the difference between vault and arch

is that vault is an arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy while arch is (inverted U shape)An inverted U shape.

As verbs the difference between vault and arch

is that vault is to build as, or cover with a vault while arch is to form into an arch shape.

As an adjective arch is

(knowing) Knowing, clever, mischievous.

vault

English

(wikipedia vault)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) volte (modern .

Noun

(en noun)
  • An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
  • * Gray
  • the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
  • A structure resembling a vault, especially (poetic) that formed by the sky.
  • * Shakespeare
  • that heaven's vault should crack
  • * 1985', God said, ‘Let there be a ' vault through the middle of the waters to divide the waters in two.’ — Genesis 1:6 (New Jerusalem Bible)
  • A secure, enclosed area, especially an underground room used for burial, or to store valuables, wine etc.
  • The bank kept their money safe in a large vault .
    Family members had been buried in the vault for centuries.
  • * Sandys
  • the silent vaults of death
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • to banish rats that haunt our vault
    Derived terms
    * barrel vault * cloister vault * compound vault * cross vault * decapartite vault * dodecapartite vault * domical vault * groin vault * oblique vault * octopartite vault * panel vault * polygonal vault * quadripartite vault * quinquepartite vault * ribbed vault * segmental vault * septempartite vault * sexpartite vault * star vault * stilted vault * tripartite vault * Welsh vault

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To build as, or cover with a vault.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) frequentative form of (etyl) volvere; later assimilated to Etymology 1, above.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To jump or leap over.
  • The fugitive vaulted over the fence to escape.
    Derived terms
    * vaulter * vaulting

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of vaulting; a leap or jump.
  • (gymnastics) An event in gymanstics performed on a vaulting horse.
  • See also

    * pole vault * vaulting horse

    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

    * ----