Arch Kids Encyclopedia

"Archway" redirects here. For the area of London, see Archway, London.

An arch

An arch is an opening in a building that is curved on top. The curved part can be round, like part of a circle, or pointed, like two parts of circles next to each other. Arches are often used where buildings are made of lots of small stones or bricks. The stone at the very top of the arch, called the keystone, keeps the rest of the arch stones from falling down. Arches can go over doorways and windows. Many bridges are arches.

Arch can also mean to be clever or to know something.

Images

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  Rossgraben bridge (Rüeggisberg) near Bern, Switzerland, showing the hinge at mid-span of this three-hinged arch.

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  Example of semi-circular arches using limestone block construction at the Great Wall, China.

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  Roman aqueduct near Nîmes, France: An example of an arcade, employing the circular arch.

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  Horseshoe arches (9th century) in the Mosque of Uqba, in Kairouan, Tunisia.

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  Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, Belgium, with its central, pointed arch window, typical of Gothic architecture.

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  Interior vaulted ceiling of Notre Dame de Paris, showing the ribs at the intersection of several arches.

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  Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne, England: An example of a parabolic arch used in bridge design.

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  Pont d'arcades in Móra d'Ebre, Catalonia: the bridge is designed as a series of parabolic arches.

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  The Delicate Arch, a natural arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah

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  Round arch or Semi-circular arch

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  Segmental arch or arch that is less than a semicircle

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  Unequal round arch or Rampant round arch

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  Lancet arch

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  Equilateral pointed arch

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  Shouldered flat arch -see also jack arch

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  Trefoil arch, or Three-foiled cusped arch

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  Horseshoe arch

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  Three-centered arch

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  Elliptical arch

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  Inflexed arch

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  Reverse ogee arch

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  Tudor arch

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  Parabolic arch

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  Reconstructed Ishtar Gate of Babylon in Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany (2014)

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  Arch of Augustus, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2015)

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  Arch of Gallienus, Rome, Italy (2006)

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  Arch of Hadrian, Athens, Greece (2013)

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  Arch of Constantine, Rome, Italy, commemorating a victory by Constantine I in 312 AD (2007)

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  The Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France; a 19th-century triumphal arch modelled on the classical Roman design (1998)

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  Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch in the Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York City, New York (2007)

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  Washington Square Arch, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2010)

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  Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri; a sculpture based on a catenary arch (2011)

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  The dry stone bridge, so called Porta Rosa (4th century BC), in Elea, Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy (2005)

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  Pont Flavien across the River Touloubre in Saint-Chamas, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (2008)

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  Pont du Garde, a Roman aqueduct in Vers-Pont-du-Gard, Gard, France (2014)

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  Bridge in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic (2004)

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  Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (2011)

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  Pont de Bercy over the River Seine, Paris, France, carrying the Paris Métro on its upper deck and a boulevard extension on its lower deck (2006)

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  Grosvenor Bridge over the River Dee in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK (2007)

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  Union Arch Bridge carrying the Washington Aqueduct and MacArthur Boulevard (formerly named Conduit Road) in Cabin John, Montgomery County, Maryland (2008)

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  Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. (2007)

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  Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. (2006)

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  Woodrow Wilson Bridge carrying Interstate 95 (I-95) and the Capital Beltway over the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland (2007)

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  Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas (2012)

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  Bridges over the Autostrade A1 motorway and connecting roads in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2012)

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  Bridge over the Autostrade A1 motorway in Reggio Emilia, Italy (2015)

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  Gateshead Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK (2005)

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  Tyne Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK (2004)

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  Hell Gate Bridge over the East River, New York City, New York,

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  Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (2010)

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  Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River, Remagen, Germany, showing damage before collapse during the Battle of Remagen in World War II (1945)

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  Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (2009)

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  Arch supporting the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (2015)

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  The Second Wembley Stadium in London, built in 2007 (2007)

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  The First San Mamés Stadium, in Bilbao, arch built in 1953, demolished 2013 (2013)

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  St Pancras railway station, London, England (2011)

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  Train shed in St Pancras railway station, London, England (2010)

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  Train shed in Victoria Station, London, England (2006)

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  Lucerne railway station, Switzerland (2010)

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  Train shed in Lucerne railway station, Switzerland (2016)

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  Central railway station, Frankfurt, Germany (2008)

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  Train shed in Central railway station, Frankfurt, Germany (2005)

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  Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2008)

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  Arches in Main Concourse, Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2014)

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  Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany (2011)

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  The Colosseum in Rome, Italy (2013)

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  Arches inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy (2005)

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  Stonework arches seen in a ruined stonework building – Burg Lippspringe, Germany

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  Several arches at the Casa Simón Bolívar in Havana, Cuba

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  Kings College, University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England (2007)

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  Arches in dining hall at Kings College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England (2007)

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  Memorial Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (circa 1897-1924 photochrom post card)

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  Arches inside transept, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2016)

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  Arches inside Annenberg Hall, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2016)

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  Healy Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (2009)

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  Arches inside Healy Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (2010)

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  Central Tower, Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, New York City, New York (2013)

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  Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

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  Arches in throne room of Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany (1886 photochrom print)

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  Arches in the nave of the church in monastery of Alcobaça, Portugal

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  North facade of Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France (2008)

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  Arches in choir of Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France (2013)

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  Western facade, Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster, London, England (2013)

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  Arches in nave of Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster, London, England (2006)

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  Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

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  Arches inside the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. (2005)

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  Main facade of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy (2015)

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  Interior arches in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy (2009)

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (2013)

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  Arches inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (1983)

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  Arches inside the western upper gallery, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey (2007)

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  Interior arches in Masjid al-Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia (2008)

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  Roof of Masjid al-Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia (2008)

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  Dome of the Rock, Old City of Jerusalem (2010)

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  Arches inside Dome of the Rock, Old City of Jerusalem (2014)

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  Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India (2009)

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  Entrance to grounds of Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India (2004)

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  East side of United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. (2005)

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  Arches in corridor of United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. (2006)

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  Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (2008)

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  Arches in Main Reading Room, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (2009)

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  Arches in Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (2007)

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  Art Deco arches on Chrysler Building, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2005)

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  New York Public Library Main Branch, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2016)

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  Arches inside entrance of New York Public Library Main Branch, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2012)

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  Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2012)

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  Arches in Great Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City, New York (2012)

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  Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (2016)

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  Arches near Jordan Staircase, Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (2015)

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  Arches in Pavilion Hall, Small Hermitage, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (2015)

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  Cour Carrée, Louvre Palace, Paris, France (2010)

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  Arches in Salle du Manège, Louvre Palace, Paris, France (2007)

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  Palace of Versailles, Versailles, Yvelines, France (2012)

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  Arches in Galerie des Batailles, Palace of Versailles, Versailles, Yvelines, France (2013)

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  Arches in Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles, Versailles, Yvelines, France (2011)

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  Palace of Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England (2010)

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  Arches in Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England (2011)

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  Arches in St. Stevens Hall, Palace of Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England (2007)

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  Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza, Spain (2005)

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  Horseshoe arch inside Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza, Spain (2004)

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  Multifoil arches inside Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza, Spain (2004)

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  Catenary arches inside Casa Milà in Barcelona, Spain by Antoni Gaudí

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  Rajasthani style arches inside the 16th century City Palace, Udaipur, India

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  Main façade of the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, Brazil, decorated with many arches.

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  Smithsonian Institution Building ("The Castle"), Washington, D.C. (2007)

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  Arches inside the Smithsonian Institution Building ("The Castle"), Washington, D.C. (2012)

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  National Building Museum (formerly Pension Building), Washington, D.C. (2005)

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  Arches inside National Building Museum (formerly Pension Building), Washington, D.C. (2007)

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  Main facade of the Old Post Office Pavilion (now the Trump International Hotel) in Washington, D.C. (2012)

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  Front entrance of Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C. (2006)

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  Arches inside Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C. (2009)

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  Arches in Merzouga, Morocco (2011)

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  Crypt of the Popes in the Catacomb of Callixtus, Rome, Italy (2007)

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  Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD) tomb chamber (2008)

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  Entrance to Washington family tomb at Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia (2014)

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  Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, Virginia (2014)

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  Landscape Arch, Arches National Park, Utah (2009)

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  Double O Arch, Arches National Park, Utah (2007)