arch: a typically curved structural member spanning an opening and serving as a support (as for the wall or other weight above the opening)
Recently, I was looking for an image in my photo catalogue and came across one of repeating arches. That sent me searching my catalogue for other photos of arches (and being pleasantly surprised that I’d started using arch as a keyword several months ago, so I could find the photos!). Once I decided to create a gallery of these images, I looked up the definition of arch, which led to looking up different kinds of arches and finding that an arch can be pointed (e.g., a lancet arch). Having fallen this far down the rabbit hole* of online information, I kept going to vault (an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof) and barrel and groin vaults.
Back to where I started, I love the grace and symmetry of arches, especially when they are repeated or reflected.
Click (or double-click, depending on your device) on any image to launch the slideshow.
* This is an interesting article about the term rabbit hole.
“Arch” and “Vault.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Images © Melissa Corcoran.