Bank

English Meaning

A mound, pile, or ridge of earth, raised above the surrounding level; hence, anything shaped like a mound or ridge of earth; as, a bank of clouds; a bank of snow.

1. A piled-up mass, as of snow or clouds. See Synonyms at heap.
2. A steep natural incline.
3. An artificial embankment.
4. The slope of land adjoining a body of water, especially adjoining a river, lake, or channel. Often used in the plural.
5. A large elevated area of a sea floor. Often used in the plural.
6. Games The cushion of a billiard or pool table.
7. The lateral inward tilting, as of a motor vehicle or an aircraft, in turning or negotiating a curve.
8. To border or protect with a ridge or embankment.
9. To pile up; amass: banked earth along the wall.
10. To cover (a fire), as with ashes or fresh fuel, to ensure continued low burning.
11. To construct with a slope rising to the outside edge: The turns on the racetrack were steeply banked.
12. To tilt (an aircraft) laterally and inwardly in flight.
13. To tilt (a motor vehicle) laterally and inwardly when negotiating a curve.
14. Games To strike (a billiard ball) so that it rebounds from the cushion of the table.
15. Sports To play (a ball or puck) in such a way as to make it glance off a surface, such as a backboard or wall.
16. To rise in or take the form of a bank.
17. To tilt an aircraft or a motor vehicle laterally when turning.
18. A business establishment in which money is kept for saving or commercial purposes or is invested, supplied for loans, or exchanged.
19. The offices or building in which such an establishment is located.
20. Games The funds of a gambling establishment.
21. Games The funds held by a dealer or banker in some gambling games.
22. Games The reserve pieces, cards, chips, or play money in some games, such as poker, from which the players may draw.
23. A supply or stock for future or emergency use: a grain bank.
24. Medicine A supply of human tissues or other materials, such as blood, skin, or sperm, held in reserve for future use.
25. A place of safekeeping or storage: a computer's memory bank.
26. Obsolete A moneychanger's table or place of business.
27. To deposit in or as if in a bank.
28. To transact business with a bank or maintain a bank account.
29. To operate a bank.
30. bank on To have confidence in; rely on.
31. A set of similar or matched things arranged in a row, especially:
32. A set of elevators.
33. A row of keys on a keyboard.
34. Nautical A bench for rowers in a galley.
35. Nautical A row of oars in a galley.
36. Printing The lines of type under a headline.
37. To arrange or set up in a row: "Every street was banked with purple-blooming trees” ( Doris Lessing).