drop arch
- noun
- Specialized
:
arco caído
- The cathedral features a beautiful drop arch above its main doorway.
Examples
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A drop arch distributes weight differently from a traditional round arch.
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Architects in the Gothic period often used the drop arch for its distinctive appearance.
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The drop arch design adds elegance to the building.
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Many churches feature drop arches in their architecture.
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The cathedral features a beautiful drop arch above its main doorway.
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Architects in the Gothic period often used the drop arch for its distinctive appearance.
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Many churches feature drop arches in their architecture.
Synonyms
41
3.5
A curved structure that spans an opening and supports weight
An arch with a curve smaller than a half circle used for doors and bridges
An arch that is less than half as tall as it is wide
An arch whose height is less than half its width
How Pointed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositionally transparent in that 'arch' names the structure and 'drop' suggests a drooping or lowered curve, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a particular type of arch with a downward/shallow profile. However, the precise technical sense (the slightly pointed, two‑center shallow curvature) is specialized architectural knowledge and not fully predictable from the constituents, so the item is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun drop arch is named for its shape: imagine two gentle curves meeting to make a small point so the top seems to drop a little and the arch looks shallow and slightly pointed. That's why 'drop arch' means 'an arch with a shallow, slightly pointed curve used above doors or windows'.