From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
Ark
n 1: (Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the
two tablets containing the Ten Commandments [syn: Ark,
Ark of the Covenant]
2: a boat built by Noah to save his family and animals from the
Flood
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ark \Ark\ ([aum]rk), n. [OE. ark, arke, arche, AS. arc, earc,
earce, fr. L. arca, fr. arcere to inclose, keep off; akin to
Gr. 'arkei^n to keep off.]
1. A chest, or coffer. [Obs.]
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Bearing that precious relic in an ark. --Spenser.
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2. (Jewish Hist.) The oblong chest of acacia wood, overlaid
with gold, which supported the mercy seat with its golden
cherubs, and occupied the most sacred place in the
sanctuary. In it Moses placed the two tables of stone
containing the ten commandments. Called also the {Ark of
the Covenant}.
[1913 Webster]
3. The large, chestlike vessel in which Noah and his family
were preserved during the Deluge. --Gen. vi. Hence: Any
place of refuge.
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4. A large flatboat used on Western American rivers to
transport produce to market.
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