ark

The word “ark” means the large boat built by Noah in the Bible story, used to save his family and pairs of animals from a great flood. In plain terms, best known as Noah's boat in the Bible, but also used for the Torah cabinet in a synagogue or, loosely, anything offering shelter.

“Ark” is pronounced ahk (/ɑɹk/ in IPA).

Here is “ark” used in a sentence: “The children's Bible showed animals filing two by two into the ark.”

Words with a similar meaning to “ark” include barge, basket, chest, coffer, hutch and refuge.

“Ark” is a noun.

The word “ark” comes from Latin. From Old English earc, from Latin arca, "chest, box," from arcere, "to enclose.".

“Ark” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Ark” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the large boat built by Noah in the Bible story, used to save his family and pairs of animals from a great flood.

An ark specifically refers to a large boat built for survival or protection, most famously Noah's ark, which carried his family and pairs of animals through a great flood. A regular ship is the general term for any large vessel used for transport, without the specific connotation of refuge from disaster.

In Jewish worship, an ark is a cabinet positioned at the front of a synagogue that holds the Torah scrolls. This meaning is distinct from the Noah's ark story, though both uses of the word share the underlying idea of a container that holds and protects something sacred or precious.

Because Noah's ark protected its passengers from the flood, the word ark has come to be used more loosely for anything that offers protection or refuge in difficult circumstances. This figurative use extends beyond boats to describe any safe haven.