flat arch
- noun
- Specialized
:
arco plano
- The ancient temple was adorned with flat arches that supported the roof beautifully.
Examples
-
There are flat arches, round arches, triangular arches, and pointed arches.
Fiction book (1999) -
During our architecture tour, we admired several flat arches that showcased the skill of the builders.
-
The new library features large flat arches made of stone, allowing for an open and airy design.
Synonyms
41
3.5
A curved structure that spans an opening and supports weight
A structure with a straight horizontal top made of stones cut like wedges that support each other
How Curved
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward modifier + noun composition: 'flat' describes the shape of an 'arch', so a learner who knows both words can infer an arch with a flat or horizontal profile. While the technical detail about voussoirs is specialized, the core meaning is transparently derived from the constituents and is cross-linguistically obvious.
Etymology
The building term flat arch names a kind of arch that looks flat instead of curved. It is made from a row of stones cut like wedges that press together to 'hold up' the wall, so even without a curve it works like an 'arch' today.