flank

[ flangk ]

/ flæŋk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flank ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip.

the thin piece of flesh constituting this part.

a slice of meat from the flank of an animal.

the side of anything, as of a building.

Military, Navy. the extreme right or left side of an army or fleet, or a subdivision of an army or fleet.

Fortification.

the right or left side of a work or fortification.
the part of a bastion that extends from the curtain to the face and protects the curtain and the opposite face.

Machinery. (on a screw thread or the like) either of the two vertical inclined surfaces between the crest and the root.

verb (used with object)

to stand or be placed or posted at the flank or side of.

to defend or guard at the flank.

Military. to menace or attack the flank of.

to pass around or turn the flank of.

verb (used without object)

to occupy a position at the flank or side.

to present the flank or side.

Origin of flank

before 1100; Middle English; late Old English flanc < Old French < Frankish; compare Old High German hlanca loin

SYNONYMS FOR flank

8 line, edge, skirt, border.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flank ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM flank

un·flank, verb (used with object) well-flanked, adjective

Words nearby flank

flanders poppy, flange, flange coupling, flanged rail, flangeway, flank, flank position, flank speed, flanken, flanker, flannel

Example sentences from the Web for flanking

He joins Donohue in flanking the man as he disappears behind a partition and from camera view.

Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill |Michael Daly |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He looped around in the grass, flanking the mine mouth, slow, quiet now, crouching a little.

The Ballad of Johnny France |Richard Ben Cramer |January 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I was not thinking of commanding the flanking party myself, sir.

A Victorious Union |Oliver Optic
The church of Notre Dame, dating from the 13th century, stands immediately under the citadel and flanking the bridge.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 |Various

The flanking posts were too much engaged in defending themselves to be able to assist the defenders of Gun Hill.

A Handbook of the Boer War |Gale and Polden, Limited
The town was a small one, and the fort one of the ordinary native forts, built in a parallelogram with flanking towers.

With Clive in India |G. A. Henty
The other batteries took position to its left, one of them so as to command the enemy's battery with a flanking fire.

Recollections with the Third Iowa Regiment |Seymour D. (Seymour Dwight) Thompson

British Dictionary definitions for flanking

flank

/ (flæŋk) /

noun

the side of a man or animal between the ribs and the hip

(loosely) the outer part of the human thigh

a cut of beef from the flank

the side of anything, such as a mountain or building

the side of a naval or military formation

verb

(when intr, often foll by on or upon) to be located at the side of (an object, building, etc)

military to position or guard on or beside the flank of (a formation, etc)

military to move past or go round (a flank)

Word Origin for flank

C12: from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin

Medical definitions for flanking

flank

[ flăngk ]

n.

The side of the body between the pelvis or hip and the last rib; the side.

The section of flesh in that area.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

flank

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of flank

SYNONYMS FOR flank

OTHER WORDS FROM flank

Words nearby flank

Example sentences from the Web for flanking

British Dictionary definitions for flanking

noun

verb

Word Origin for flank

Medical definitions for flanking

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

flank

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of flank

SYNONYMS FOR flank

OTHER WORDS FROM flank

Words nearby flank

Words related to flanking

Example sentences from the Web for flanking

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for flanking

noun

verb

Word Origin for flank

Medical definitions for flanking

n.

British Dictionary definitions for flanking