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   Bank

   /baNGk/

   

   noun

   • 1. the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake: "willows lined the bank" Similar edgesideembankmentleveebordervergeboundarymarginrimfringefringesflankbrinkperimetercircumferenceextremityperipherylimitouter limitlimitsboundboundsliterary:margebournskirt
   • 2. a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance: "a bank of snow" Similar sloperiseinclinegradientrampacclivitytumpmoundridgehillockhummockknollhumpbarrowtumulusearthworkparadosbermelevationeminenceprominencebarreefshoalshelfaccumulationpileheapmassdrift
   • ▪ an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank.
   • ▪ a transverse slope given to a road, railroad, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed around a curve. Similar sloperiseinclinegradientrampacclivitytumpmoundridgehillockhummockknollhumpbarrowtumulusearthworkparadosbermelevationeminenceprominencebarreefshoalshelfaccumulationpileheapmassdrift
   • ▪ the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight: "flying with small amounts of bank"
   • 3. a set or series of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows: "the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console" Similar arrayrowlinetiergroupseriespanelconsoleboard
   • ▪ a tier of oars: "the early ships had only twenty-five oars in each bank"
   • 4. the cushion of a pool table: "a bank shot"

   verb

   • 1. heap (a substance) into a mass or mound: "the rain banked the soil up behind the gate" Similar pile (up)heap (up)stack (up)make a pile ofmake a heap ofmake a stack ofaccumulateamassassembleput together
   • ▪ rise or form into a mass or mound: "purple clouds banked up over the hills"
   • ▪ heap (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly: "she could have made a fire and banked it with dirt" Similar damp (down)smotherstifle
   • ▪ edge or surround with a ridge or row of something: "steps banked with pots of chrysanthemums"
   • 2. (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn: "the plane banked as if to return to the airport" Similar tiltleantipslantinclineangleslopelistcamberpitchdipcantput/be at an angle
   • ▪ build (a road, railroad, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering: "the track was banked to allow a train to take curves faster while maintaining passenger comfort"
   • 3. (of a locomotive) provide additional power for (a train) in ascending an incline: British "he has built a four-cylinder locomotive for banking trains up the Lickey incline"
   • 4. (in pool and other games) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a backboard or cushion: North American "I banked the eight ball off two cushions"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old Norse bakki, of Germanic origin; related to bench. The senses ‘set of things in rows’ and ‘tier of oars’ are from French banc, of the same ultimate origin.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

   • K

     5

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