ark
UK /ɑːk/ · US /ɑɹk/ noun, proper noun
Forms arks the Ark
- noun A large box with a flat lid.
- noun (Abrahamism) The ship built by Noah to save his family and a collection of animals from the deluge; Noah's ark.
- noun Something affording protection; safety, shelter, refuge. “the Ark of Bukhara”
- noun (figuratively) The body as a vessel.
- noun A spacious type of boat with a flat bottom.
- noun (Judaism) The Ark of the Covenant.
- noun (Judaism) A decorated cabinet at the front of a synagogue, in which Torah scrolls are kept.
- proper noun (biblical) The boat built by the Biblical Noah to carry himself and the animals of the planet during the Flood.
- proper noun (biblical) The chest carried by the Hebrews containing the stone tablets carved with the Ten Commandments.
Synonyms
barge basket chest coffer hutch refuge retreat shelter ship vessel Ark of the Covenant
Etymology
From Middle English arke, from Old English earc, ærc, from Latin arca (“chest, box, coffer”), from arceō (“to enclose”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A chest, or coffer. [Obs.]
- noun The oblong chest of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, which supported the mercy seat with its golden cherubs, and occupied the most sacred place in the sanctuary. In it Moses placed the two tables of stone containing the ten commandments. Called also the Ark of the Covenant.
Etymology [OE. ark, arke, arche, AS. arc, earc, earce, fr. L. arca, fr. arcere to inclose, keep off; akin to Gr. 1. A chest, or coffer. [Obs.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “ark”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details