flank

noun

\ˈflaŋk

Definition of flank

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip broadly : the side of a quadruped She gently patted the horse's flank.

b : a cut of meat from this part of an animal — see beef illustration

2a : side the eastern flank of a volcano

b : the right or left of a formation attacked the enemy on both flanks

3 : the area along either side of a heraldic shield

flank

verb

flanked; flanking; flanks

Definition of flank (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to be situated at the side of especially : to be situated on both sides of a road flanked with linden trees

b : to place something on each side of

2 : to protect a flank of

3 : to attack or threaten the flank of (as a body of troops)

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about flank

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Examples of flank in a Sentence

Noun

She gently patted the horse's flank. They attacked the enemy on both flanks. the eastern flank of a volcano

Verb

the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Three bedrooms and a full bath flank the hallway, while a surprisingly seamless addition at the back holds a master bedroom and new full bath, plus bay windows with seasonal views of Stony Brook Reservoir. — Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, "For sale: Bungalows in Needham and Weston," 18 May 2018 Since then, a hard-right flank of the Republican Party, led by White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and Cotton, pulled the president back from the center. — Chris Strohm, Bloomberg.com, "GOP Sees Possible DACA Deal While Trump Bemoans Sticking Points," 15 Jan. 2018 Lava began flowing out of the volcano and down toward the mountain’s flank and across homes and roads around 4 p.m. Dramatic video showed a fast-moving lahar slamming into a bridge on a highway between Sacatepequez and Escuintla. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "Guatemala volcano eruption kills at least 65, forces thousands to evacuate," 2 Oct. 2018 Chicxulub’s northeastern flank was open to the Gulf of Mexico, which allowed deep, nutrient-carrying water to circulate throughout the crater, the team reports today in Nature. — Katherine Kornei, Science | AAAS, "Life rebounded just years after the dinosaur-killing asteroid struck," 30 May 2018 On the other flank, more advertisers are bringing digital ad buying in house. — Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, "Madison Avenue’s Unequal Fight With Google," 6 Nov. 2018 The brigade would also be fairly close to NATO’s northern flank in the Baltics and the frontline with Ukraine. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Russian Can't Afford To Give Its Next-Gen Battle Tanks to Most of its Army," 28 Aug. 2018 Firefighters continued to focus on protecting structures at the ski area and search for areas to fight the fire along the rugged east flank of the wilderness area. — Benjamin Romano, The Seattle Times, "Weekend lightning, wind spread wildfires across Washington state," 14 Aug. 2018 Some areas on the fire's southeastern flank were reopened to residents. — Paul Elias, Fox News, "Weather to bring renewed fire danger to Northern California," 4 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

With justices seated by seniority, President Donald Trump’s two appointees will flank the Supreme Court bench, Justice Neil Gorsuch at one end and Kavanaugh at the other. — Mark Sherman, The Seattle Times, "Kavanaugh to hear first arguments as Supreme Court justice," 8 Oct. 2018 But barrier islands also flank much of the lower part of the state. — Ben Finley, Fox News, "AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes," 12 Sep. 2018 Some flanked Ariana at a long table, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, while others posed statuesquely by the massive pillars and majestic galaxy background behind the tableau. — Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, "Ariana Grande's VMAs 2018 Performance of "God is a Woman" Was a Religious Experience," 21 Aug. 2018 Some flanked Grande at a long table, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, while others posed by the massive pillars and galaxy background behind the tableau. — Andrea Park, Glamour, "Ariana Grande's 2018 MTV VMAs Performance of "God Is a Woman" Featured 50 Diverse Female Dancers," 20 Aug. 2018 On Wednesday, security guards flanked the casket, which was surrounded by black roses and silver leaves as a row of spotlights lit the stage at the 20,000-seat BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. — Washington Post, "Fans throng Florida arena, mourn slain rapper XXXTentacion," 29 June 2018 The gold chain bracelet boasts a center place that is flanked by a C on either end and can be customized with not only a name, but also graphics. — Avery Matera, Teen Vogue, "Kylie Jenner Shows Off Stormi’s Custom Cartier Bracelet," 14 Sep. 2018 Of course, Kylie was flanked by her four sisters all night long, as well as her boyfriend and baby daddy, Travis Scott. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "9 Juicy Details From Kylie Jenner's Over-The-Top 21st Birthday Party That You Totally Missed," 10 Aug. 2018 On the flip side, though, a more low-key look could be highly appealing to a celebrity clientele, who'd covet an unassuming exterior that's less likely to be flanked by paparazzi day and night. — Candace Braun Davison, House Beautiful, "There's An Interesting Theory Why Justin Timberlake's New York Penthouse Hasn't Sold," 25 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.