flank

play

noun \ ˈflaŋk \

Definition of flank

1 a :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

2 a :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

See flank defined for English-language learners

See flank defined for kids

Examples of flank in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of flank from the Web

Uphill runs are occurring on the eastern flank of the fire, and aircraft will be used today to establish a fire line before thunderstorms hit the area.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Fire in Wood River Valley grows to more than 2,500 acres," 24 July 2017
In June, the U.S. Air Force also sent B-1 and B-52 bombers to Europe to participate in the massive BALTOPs exercise with Baltic allies, which included 50 allied ships running through a series of defensive maneuvers to protect NATO's northern flanks.

— chicagotribune.com, "NATO, Russian troops rattle swords along hundreds of miles of borderland," 19 July 2017
The mystery is part of the lure: snaking rice noodles and hunks of flank steak turned gloweringly incarnadine by an earthy-sweet sauce, infiltrated by peanuts and as thick as Italian ragù.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "A Rare Manhattan Find: Great Vietnamese Food, Times Two," 13 July 2017
Morris, the Sounders striker, doubled the lead when second-half substitute Alejandro Bedoya passed to Eric Lichaj running down the right flank, Lichaj crossed and Morris redirected the ball in.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Jordan Morris scores twice as U.S. men beat Martinique in Gold Cup game," 12 July 2017
A new Dream Dinners location in Daphne plans to give out 100 free flank steaks at its grand opening on Thursday.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Dream Dinners to offer free steaks in Daphne, as company opens first new 'meal assembly' store in years," 11 July 2017
In the alt-right’s murky ecosystem of players and affiliations, the Proud Boys are one of the more offbeat outfits to set up shop on conservatism’s right flank in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and election.

— kyle swenson, Washington Post, "The alt-right’s Proud Boys love Fred Perry polo shirts. The feeling is not mutual.," 10 July 2017
Last week, the tacos — made with marinated flank steak, Asian slaw and ginger soy glaze — won first place at the Taste of Vista event.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Vista native opens hometown bar," 29 June 2017
The northern jetty, where Fernandez crashed his power boat around 3 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2016, and a jetty to the south, flank a lighted channel used to guide boats to and from Port Miami.

— douglas hanks, miamiherald, "Coast Guard says lights not needed on jetty where Jose Fernandez died in boat crash," 29 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of flank

Middle English, from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hlanca loin, flank — more at lank

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

flank Synonyms

Synonyms

side, hand

Related Words

outside; face, top; bottom, foot, underbelly, underbody, underpart, underside, undersurface; lee, leeward, windward; left, right

Near Antonyms

center, inside, interior, middle, midway

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

flank

verb

Definition of flank

transitive verb

1 a :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)

See flank defined for English-language learners

Examples of flank in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of flank from the Web

The monument was surrounded by a black metal fence and flanked by two other monuments.

— Washington Post, "As others tear down Confederate monuments, Alabama unveils 1," 27 Aug. 2017
Yes, Justin Trudeau has recently received the honor of a larger-than-life butter sculpture of himself, flanked by two baby pandas.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "There's Nothing Butter Than This Sculpture of Justin Trudeau," 22 Aug. 2017
When the project is finished, there will be two new giant video boards, elevated in the northeast and northwest corners and flanking the new seating structure, giving the stadium three video boards in all.

— steve jones, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville football | 'Stunning' Papa John's Cardinal Stadium expansion still on pace, Tom Jurich says," 17 Aug. 2017
Frontal assaults, flanking maneuvers, and ambushes—these were the simple tactics employed in pitched battles from the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC continuing through the time of the Roman Empire, into the Middle Ages, and beyond.

— william gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "How to Storm a Castle," 10 Aug. 2017
Mayra Gonzalez of the iconic 1990s South Beach boutique Findings is flanked by the luminous Gillian Sacco of the vintage clothing store Blue Moon.

— tom austin, miamiherald, "Images of Mexico and Miami Beach as they were — and as we wish," 4 Aug. 2017
Renteria’s shot of the first lady flanked by Army Gen. M.F. Harmon and Halsey appeared in newspapers across the country.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Taking his best shot: 100-year-old WWII photographer recounts remarkable life," 29 July 2017
Swallows dived as the sky darkened until, at just the perfect pitch of half dusk, the models started their fantasy masculine passeggiata by descending a palm flanked golden staircase from the convent.

— luke leitch, Vogue, "Dolce & Gabbana Present an Alta Sartoria Collection as Extraordinary As Its Cattedrale di Monreale Setting," 9 July 2017
Flanking him in the frontcourt is a 23-year old center that just became the first qualifying rookie big man since Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 15 points and 13 rebounds per-36 minutes.

— jared dubin, GQ, "Running the Knicks Is Still One of the Best NBA Jobs Available," 3 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of flank

see ¹flank

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1594

See Words from the same year

flank Synonyms

Synonyms

abut, border (on), butt (on or against), adjoin, fringe, join, march (with), neighbor, skirt, touch, verge (on)

Related Words

attach (to), communicate (with), connect (with), link (with); bound, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), fence, line, margin, rim, surround; contact, converge, meet

FLANK Defined for English Language Learners

flank

play

noun

Definition of flank for English Language Learners

: the area on the side of an animal (such as a horse) between the ribs and the hip
: the right or left side of a military formation
: the side of something

flank

verb

Definition of flank for English Language Learners

: to be located on both sides of (something or someone)

FLANK Defined for Kids

flank

play

noun \ ˈflaŋk \

Definition of flank for Students

1 :the area on the side of an animal between the ribs and the hip

2 :¹side 3

the mountain's flank

3 :the right or left side of a formation (as of soldiers)

flank

verb

Definition of flank for Students

flanked; flanking

1 :to be located at the side of

With two rats flanking him, the Father Abbot stepped forward …
—Brian Jacques, Redwall

2 :to attack or threaten the side of

We've flanked the enemy troops.

Medical Dictionary

flank

play

noun \ ˈflaŋk \

medical Definition of flank

:the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip; broadly :the side of a quadruped

Illustration of flank

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See words that rhyme with flank Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flank Spanish Central: Translation of flank Nglish: Translation of flank for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flank for Arabic speakers

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flank

Definition of flank

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Examples of flank in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flank from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flank

flank Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Anatomy Terms

flank

Definition of flank

Examples of flank in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flank from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flank

flank Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

FLANK Defined for English Language Learners

flank

Definition of flank for English Language Learners

flank

Definition of flank for English Language Learners

FLANK Defined for Kids

flank

Definition of flank for Students

flank

Definition of flank for Students

Medical Dictionary

flank

medical Definition of flank

Illustration of flank

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