tank

¹tank

noun \ˈtaŋk\

Definition of TANK

1

dialect : pond, pool; especially : one built as a water supply

2

: a usually large receptacle for holding, transporting, or storing liquids (as water or fuel)

3

: an enclosed heavily armed and armored combat vehicle that moves on tracks

4

: a prison cell or enclosure used especially for receiving prisoners

5

: tank top

— tank·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

— tank·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— in the tank or into the tank

: in or into a decline or slump <the sullen student's grades went into the tank>

Origin of TANK

Portuguese tanque, alteration of estanque, from estancar to stanch, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *stanticare — more at stanch

First Known Use: 1609

Rhymes with TANK

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

²tank

verb

Definition of TANK

transitive verb

1

: to place, store, or treat in a tank

2

: to make no effort to win : lose intentionally <tanked the match>

intransitive verb

1

: to lose intentionally : give up in competition

2

: to suffer rapid decline, failure, or collapse <bought a stock that quickly tanked>

Examples of TANK

1. Some people say she deliberately tanked the match.
2. Some people have accused her of tanking.

First Known Use of TANK

1863

Related to TANK

Synonyms

bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, fail, wash out

Antonyms

click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out

Related Words

flounder, struggle; decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane; crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire; go under; implode, self-destruct

Near Antonyms

cook, flourish, prosper, thrive; prevail, triumph, win

tank

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Heavily armed and armoured combat vehicle that moves on two continuous metal chains called tracks. It is usually equipped with a cannon mounted in a revolving turret as well as lighter automatic weapons. The British developed tanks during World War I to fill the need for an armoured assault vehicle that could cross the muddy, uneven terrain of the trench battle zone. They first saw combat at the Battle of the Somme (1916). In World War II, Germany's tank force was initially the most effective in Europe because it was organized into fast-moving massed formations with great striking power. After World War II, tanks became larger and more heavily armed. Most modern main battle tanks weigh more than 50 tons yet are capable of road speeds of 30–40 mph (50–70 kph). The standard main armament is a 120-mm gun, which fires armour-piercing projectiles; laser range-finders and infrared imaging devices aid in sighting.