flank

CEFRC1

/ˈflæŋk/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    The side of a person, animal, or group.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    To defend the flank(s) of.

Examples

  • We'll attack their southern flank here, here, and here.

  • Flank the machine gun nest.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈfleɪ̯ŋk/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. To place to the side(s) of.

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To attack the flank(s) of.

  2. To be placed to the side(s) of something (usually in terms of two objects, one on each side).

More examples

In context

  • Ford survived a primary challenge in 1976 from the right flank of the Republican Party by Ronald Reagan.

  • I took the quarter and hid it in my right flank.

  • Holonym: side

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The soldiers protected the general's blank, guarding him from attacks from the side.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Late Middle English flanc, from Late Old English flanc (“flank”), from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin, probably Frankish *hlanca, from Proto-West Germanic *hlanku (“bend, curve, hip, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *hlankaz (“flexible, sleek, bendsome”), from Proto-Indo-European *kleng- (“to bend”). Akin to Old High German hlanca (“loin”), Middle Low German lanke (“hip joint”) (German lenken (“to bend, turn, lead”)), Old English hlanc (“loose, slender, flaccid, lank”). More at lank.