Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large boat built by Noah to save his family and animals from a great flood: In the Bible, the "ark" is the vessel constructed by Noah at God's command to survive the flood that covered the earth.
   • A sacred chest or container: Specifically, in Judaism, the "Ark" (often capitalized as "Ark of the Covenant") refers to the chest that held the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • According to the story, Noah loaded the ark with two of every kind of animal.
  • The ancient Ark of the Covenant was kept in the holiest part of the temple.

Advanced Usage

• "out of the ark" (idiom, informal): Used to describe something or someone as being very old-fashioned or antiquated.
  • That computer is so slow, it must have come out of the ark!
• "lay/touch hands on the ark" (idiom, biblical allusion): To act irreverently or presumptuously towards something sacred or highly respected; to violate a taboo.
  • Criticizing the founder's original plan was like laying hands on the ark for the old board members.

Variants and Related Words

• Ark of the Covenant / Ark of Testimony (proper noun): The specific sacred chest described in the Hebrew Bible.
• Noah's Ark (proper noun): The specific vessel from the biblical flood narrative.

Synonyms

• Vessel (for the boat meaning).
• Chest, coffer, repository (for the container meaning).

Related Phrases

• Ark of bulrushes: The basket in which the infant Moses was placed (Exodus 2:3). This is a specific biblical phrase, not a general use of "ark" alone.

Related Idioms

• "To go into the ark": Sometimes used humorously to mean to seek shelter or safety from a metaphorical "flood" of problems.
  • When the scandal broke, the CEO went into the ark and was unavailable for comment.

Noun

1. a boat built by Noah to save his family and animals from the flood
2. (Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments