bank

¹bank

noun \ˈbaŋk\

Definition of BANK

1

: a mound, pile, or ridge raised above the surrounding level: as

a : a piled-up mass of cloud or fog

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

3

a : a steep slope (as of a hill)

b : the lateral inward tilt of a surface along a curve or of a vehicle (as an airplane) when turning

4

: a protective or cushioning rim or piece

Origin of BANK

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with BANK

blank, clank, crank, dank, flank, franc, frank, hank, lank, plank, prank, rank, shank, spank, stank, swank, tank, thank, yank, Yank

²bank

verb

Definition of BANK

transitive verb

1

a : to raise a bank about

b : to cover (as a fire) with fresh fuel and adjust the draft of air so as to keep in an inactive state

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

3

a : to drive (a ball in billiards) into a cushion

b : to bounce (a ball or shot) off a surface (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>

2

a : to incline an airplane laterally

b (1) : to incline laterally (2) : to follow a curve or incline <skiers banking around the turn>

First Known Use of BANK

1590

³bank

noun

Definition of BANK

1

a : an establishment for the custody, loan, exchange, or issue of money, for the extension of credit, and for facilitating the transmission of funds

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: as

a : the fund of supplies (as money, chips, or pieces) held by the banker or dealer for use in a game

b : a fund of pieces belonging to a game (as dominoes) from which the players draw

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>

Origin of BANK

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

⁴bank

verb

Definition of BANK

intransitive verb

1

: to manage a bank

2

: to deposit money or have an account in a bank

transitive verb

: to deposit or store in a bank

— bank on

: to depend or rely on <can always bank on her friendship>

First Known Use of BANK

circa 1751

⁵bank

noun

Definition of BANK

1

: a group or series of objects arranged together in a row or a tier: as

a : a set of elevators

b : a row or tier of telephones

2

: one of the horizontal and usually secondary or lower divisions of a headline

Origin of BANK

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

First Known Use: 1614

bank

noun \ˈbaŋk\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BANK

: a place where something is held available <data bank>; especially : a depot for the collection and storage of a biological product of human origin for medical use <a sperm bank> <an eye bank>—see blood bank

bank

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Institution that deals in money and its substitutes and provides other financial services. Banks accept deposits and make loans and derive a profit from the difference in the interest paid to lenders (depositors) and charged to borrowers, respectively. They also profit from fees charged for services. The three major classes of banks are commercial banks, investment banks, and central banks. Banking depends entirely on public confidence in the system's soundness; no bank could pay all its depositors should they simultaneously demand cash, as may happen in a panic. See also credit union; Federal Reserve System; savings and loan association; savings bank.