arced

Arced is a term used in English as both a verb form and an adjective related to arc, the curved segment of a circle. As a verb, arced means to form into an arc or to move along an arc. In this sense it can describe both physical motion and the appearance of a trajectory, such as a projectile arcing over a horizon or a wire arcing between two conductors after a fault.

As an adjective, arced describes something that has the shape of an arc or that has been formed into an arc. In technical writing, engineers may refer to an “arced blade” or an “arced profile” to indicate curvature along a defined arc, especially in components where a curved geometry is important for fit, strength, or aerodynamics. The word is more common in specialized contexts than in everyday speech, where words like curved or arched are frequently used.

Etymology traces arced to arc, with the -ed suffix forming a past participle or adjective. The word is related to arcing, the ongoing process or result of creating or experiencing an arc, particularly in electrical contexts where an arc is a discharge of electricity between two points.

See also: arc, arcing, arched, curvature.