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 Much of the new deployment of law enforcement officers appeared to be focused on the Suchiate River, which forms the far western flank of Guatemala’s 600-mile border with Mexico. — Los Angeles Times, "The other Rio Grande: Central American migrants navigate jungle river en route to the United States," 23 Mar. 2021 On its back was a wooden chair held in an upright position by a flank cinch. — Chris Offutt, Harper's Magazine, "The Holler Men," 16 Mar. 2021 Ground Control is a slender snake of a trail that slithers up the flank of Cockscomb and clings to the curving sandstone. — Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, "The best Sedona hikes you haven't heard of: 5 less crowded, super scenic trails," 5 Mar. 2021 Third Platoon retained responsibility for flank security. — H.r. Mcmaster, Washington Examiner, "My Desert Storm," 4 Mar. 2021 She was buried the next day, under the noon sun, high up on the eastern flank of the Mount of Olives. — New York Times, "‘How Many Funerals Will Come Out of This One?’," 17 Feb. 2021 Maior urged defense thinkers to consider the Black Sea on par with the Baltic States in terms of deterring Russia on the eastern flank of NATO. — Abraham Mahshie, Washington Examiner, "Militarization of Crimea heightens threat to NATO’s southeastern flank," 11 Feb. 2021 Now, its front and flank have been transformed with murals by local artist Zac Maras, (his work also covers the exterior of Toups' Meatery in Mid-City). — Ian Mcnulty, NOLA.com, "With crawfish and barbecue, the next act for a festival food pro emerges in Gentilly," 4 Feb. 2021 Nguyen recommends combination No. 18, or pho with steak, flank and brisket, for new customers, or No. 13 for those who prefer a leaner cut of beef. — Larrisa Beth Turner, The Salt Lake Tribune, "8 places in Utah to get soups to go this winter," 25 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Two long windows that flank the fireplace come up near that high. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "$2.5M Ann Arbor home's landscape is replica of famous golf course grounds," 13 Mar. 2021 Two settee swings draped in white cotton flank the lobby entrance. — Jennifer Kester, Forbes, "32 Stunning Hotel Lobbies," 19 Mar. 2021 In another corner, Louis XVI bergères upholstered in leopard-print velvet flank a crimson lacquer 1970s bar cabinet. — New York Times, "The Rome Apartment a Hotelier Calls Home," 18 Mar. 2021 Along the opposite wall, two Fisher-Paykel refrigerator-freezers flank the ILVE Majestic stove. — Sarah Bonnette | Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "Floor-to-ceiling windows let the Indoors and outdoors merge in a sleek Covington renovation," 30 Dec. 2020 Two hales flank the main building; one looks to the north, while the other to the southwest for sunset views. — Lauren Jones, House Beautiful, "This Seaside, Hawaiian Retreat by Walker Warner and Nicole Hollis Is Set Up Like a Small Village," 21 Jan. 2021 In the living room, shelves from Crate & Barrel and Ballard Designs flank orange antique chairs handed down from Reese’s grandmother. — Missy Wilkinson, NOLA.com, "She does the design; he handles space planning as Uptown couple manages their own major renovation," 21 Jan. 2021 Even now, as Secret Service black Suburbans flank the sparkling glass condo building where Harris and Emhoff live, the folks at Bluestone Lane still view the vice president-elect as part of their West End community. — Washington Post, "Kamala Harris’s D.C.: Bridging Black and White, rich and poor, newly arrived and deeply rooted," 13 Jan. 2021 Both groups built devices known as Josephson junctions, in which two superconductors flank a thin layer of nonsuperconducting material, creating a valve for controlling the flow of superconductivity. — Charlie Wood, Science | AAAS, "Twisted graphene could power a new generation of superconducting electronics," 19 Nov. 2020

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.