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¹bank

noun \ˈbaŋk\

Definition of BANK

: 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

: the rising ground bordering a lake, river, or sea or forming the edge of a cut or hollow

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

: 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

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

: to heap or pile in a bank

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>

: to form or group in a tier

intransitive verb

: to rise in or form a bank —often used with up <clouds would bank up about midday, and showers fall — William Beebe>

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

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

: a person conducting a gambling house or game; specifically : dealer

: 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

: 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

: to manage a bank

: 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

: 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

: 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 ON Defined for Kids

¹bank

noun \ˈbaŋk\

Definition of BANK for Kids

: a mound or ridge especially of earth <a bank of snow>

: the side of a hill

: the higher ground at the edge of a river, lake, or sea <the banks of the river>

: something shaped like a mound <a bank of clouds>

: an undersea elevation : shoal

²bank

verb

bankedbank·ing

Definition of BANK for Kids

: to build (a curve) in a road or track with a slope upward from the inside edge

: to heap up in a mound or pile <Wind banked snow against the door.>

: to raise a pile or mound around <bank a stone wall>

: to tilt to one side when turning

³bank

noun

Definition of BANK for Kids

: a business where people deposit and withdraw their money and borrow money

: a small closed container in which money may be saved

: a storage place for a reserve supply <a blood bank>

⁴bank

verb

bankedbank·ing

Definition of BANK for Kids

: to have an account in a bank <We bank locally.>

: to deposit in a bank <bank ten dollars>

⁵bank

noun

Definition of BANK for Kids

: a group or series of objects arranged together in a row <a bank of seats>

Medical Dictionary

bank

noun \ˈbaŋk\

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