Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
broken arch

broken arch

8.1
An arch with a gap at the top often filled with decorations
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : arco roto
  • The broken arch looks stunning!

Examples

  • The historic castle featured a stunning broken arch adorned with colorful tiles.

  • Visitors admired the broken arch as a beautiful example of ancient architecture.

  • A broken arch can add visual interest to a classical architectural design.

  • The entryway was topped by a broken arch adorned with elaborate carvings.

  • They restored the old church, carefully repairing the ornate broken arch above the altar.

  • Look at that broken arch!

  • In the garden, a broken arch served as a charming entryway covered in vines.

Surface Forms

broken arch singular
broken arches plural

Morphology

broken + arch

The noun phrase is compositionally built from the adjective 'broken' (damaged, with a gap) modifying 'arch' (arched construction), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer an arch that is damaged or has a gap. This adjective + noun combination follows a common and cross-linguistically familiar pattern, making the meaning immediately accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Broken arch is an architectural name for an arch that looks 'broken' at the top because the two sides stop short of meeting, leaving a gap often filled with a small decorative piece. So the simple image of an arch that seems 'broken' explains the name and its use in building design.