arcades
|ar-cades|
🇺🇸
/ɑɹˈkeɪdz/
🇬🇧
/ɑːˈkeɪdz/
(arcade)
series of arches / covered passage
Etymology
'arcade' originates from French, specifically the word 'arcade', where the root 'arc' meant 'arch'.
'arcade' passed into English from French 'arcade', which itself is related to Italian 'arcata' and Medieval Latin 'arcata' from Latin 'arcus' meaning 'bow' or 'arch'.
Initially it referred to an architectural feature meaning 'an arch or series of arches'; over time it came to mean a covered passageway lined with shops and later also a place housing coin-operated amusement machines ('amusement arcade').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a covered passage or walkway often lined with shops and usually having arches along one or both sides.
Historic arcades in the city center attract shoppers and tourists year-round.
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Noun 2
a public place containing coin-operated amusement machines and video games (also called an amusement arcade or video arcade).
Teenagers spent the afternoon playing pinball and racing games at the arcades.
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Last updated: 2025/10/03 17:41