Home / Dictionary / Arrow

Arrow Very Common

Arrow has 6 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Abbrev · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

"The diagram used an arrow to show that the company's profits were trending downward last year."

2

a projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow

"The hunter carefully nocked the fletched arrow onto his bowstring, ready to release it at the moving target."

3

A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

"He nocked an arrow to his bowstring before aiming at the target."

In plain English: An arrow is a long, thin stick with a pointed tip and feathers at the back that you shoot from a bow to hit something far away.

"She released the arrow from the bow with great skill."

Usage: Use "arrow" to describe the pointed projectile fired from a bow, ensuring you do not confuse it with similar terms like "dart" or "bolt." It specifically refers to the object with a shaft and fletching designed for archery.

Verb
1

To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

"The hockey player shot past the goalie like an arrow, scoring before anyone could react."

In plain English: To arrow means to shoot an arrow with a bow.

"The archer arrowed her bowstring back before releasing the shot."

Usage: Use "arrow" as a verb to describe moving with sudden speed and directness, often implying a sharp, piercing motion through air or space. Avoid using it for general fast movement unless the context specifically suggests a linear, forceful trajectory similar to a projectile.

Abbrev
1

Contraction of ever a (sometimes used with a redundant a or an).

"In his hurried notes, he wrote that there is arrow no reason to worry about the extra 'a'."

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"The new marketing campaign was led by Sarah Arrow, whose family has run the advertising agency for three generations."

Example Sentences
"She released the arrow from the bow with great skill." noun
"The archer released his arrow with great precision." noun
"She drew an arrow on her map to show the way forward." noun
"The cursor on my screen changed into an arrow when I hovered over the button." noun
"The archer arrowed her bowstring back before releasing the shot." verb
See Also
bow target weapon point wasd fletch bolt bequivered
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
mark projectile
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
broad arrow butt shaft quarrel

Origin

The word "arrow" comes from Old English earh, which originally meant a projectile shot from a bow. This term traces its roots back to the Proto-Indo-European word for both a bow and an arrow.

Rhyming Words
row prow grow arow brow frow crow trow mrow drow shrow scrow serow karow throw strow ingrow narrow garrow edgrow
Compare
Arrow vs