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bank

noun (1)
\ ˈbaŋk How to pronounce bank (audio) \

Definition of bank

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a mound, pile, or ridge raised above the surrounding level: such as
a : a piled-up mass of cloud or fog a fog bank a bank of dark clouds
b : an undersea elevation rising especially from the continental shelf
2 : the rising ground bordering a lake, river, or sea or forming the edge of a cut or hollow We lived along the banks of the Mississippi River.
3a : a steep slope (as of a hill) climbed a steep bank up to the cabin
b : the lateral inward tilt of a surface along a curve The engineers hadn't given the road enough bank. : the lateral inward tilt of a vehicle (such as an airplane) when turning The bomber crossed the target area in a sharp bank.
4 : a protective or cushioning rim or piece

bank

verb (1)
banked; banking; banks

Definition of bank (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to build a raised border of earth around : to raise a bank (see bank entry 1 sense 2) about bank a fishpond
b : to restrict the flow of air to (a fire) especially by piling ash around or over the burning embers They banked the campfire at midnight so it could be easily revived in the morning.
c : to build (a curve) with the roadbed or track inclined laterally upward from the inside edge
2 : to heap or pile in a bank banking sand up along a river to prevent flooding
3a billiards : to drive (a ball) into a cushion
b sports : to bounce (a ball or shot) off a surface (such as a backboard) into or toward a goal bank in a rebound
4 : to form or group in a tier

intransitive verb

1 : to rise in or form a bank —often used with up clouds would bank up about midday, and showers fall— William Beebe
2a : to incline an airplane laterally The pilot banked right.
b(1) : to incline laterally torpedo planes … darting in to attack, then banking off— K. M. Dodson
(2) : to follow a curve or incline skiers banking around the turn

bank

noun (2)

Definition of bank (Entry 3 of 5)

1a : an establishment for the custody, loan, exchange, or issue of money, for the extension of credit, and for facilitating the transmission of funds paychecks automatically deposited into the bank went to the bank to make a withdrawal open a bank account
b obsolete : the table, counter, or place of business of a money changer
2 : a person conducting a gambling house or game specifically : dealer
3 : a supply of something held in reserve: such as
a in games : the fund of supplies (such as money, chips, or pieces) held by the banker (see banker entry 1 sense 2) or dealer
b in games : a fund of pieces (such as dominoes) from which the players draw select another domino from the bank
4 : a place where something is held available memory banks especially : a depot for the collection and storage of a biological product a blood bank

bank

verb (2)
banked; banking; banks

Definition of bank (Entry 4 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to manage a bank
2 : to deposit money or have an account in a bank (see bank entry 3 sense 1a) choosing where to bank

transitive verb

: to deposit or store in a bank bank a check Whole blood … could be banked indefinitely … — Time
bank on
: to depend or rely on can always bank on her friendship

bank

noun (3)

Definition of bank (Entry 5 of 5)

1 : a group or series of objects arranged together in a row or a tier a bank of vending machines : such as
a : a set of elevators
b : a row or tier of telephones worked at a phone bank calling potential donors
2 journalism : one of the horizontal and usually secondary or lower divisions of a headline reading the bank of the headline
Other Words from bank Did You Know? Learn More about bank

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Did You Know?

The literal meaning of Italian banca was “bench,” but the word was also used for the benchlike counter at which an early money changer transacted business, and later to describe the money changer’s shop itself—the bank. When the banking trade spread from Italy to France, and then to England, the Italian word went with it and became our English bank.

First Known Use of bank

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1738, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bank

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse bakki bank; akin to Old English benc bench — more at bench

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French banque, from Old Italian banca, literally, bench, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English benc

Noun (3)

Middle English banc bench, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English benc

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