flank
Americannoun
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the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip.
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the thin piece of flesh constituting this part.
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a slice of meat from the flank of an animal.
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the side of anything, as of a building.
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Military, Navy. the extreme right or left side of an army or fleet, or a subdivision of an army or fleet.
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Fortification.
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the right or left side of a work or fortification.
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the part of a bastion that extends from the curtain to the face and protects the curtain and the opposite face.
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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)
verb (used without object)
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to occupy a position at the flank or side.
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to present the flank or side.
noun
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the side of a man or animal between the ribs and the hip
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(loosely) the outer part of the human thigh
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a cut of beef from the flank
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the side of anything, such as a mountain or building
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the side of a naval or military formation
verb
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to be located at the side of (an object, building, etc)
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military to position or guard on or beside the flank of (a formation, etc)
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military to move past or go round (a flank)
Usage
What is a basic definition of flank? A flank is space between the lowest rib and hip of an animal or person. To flank something means to stand at the side of something. In the military, a flank is a left or right side of an army or fleet of ships. Flank has several other senses as a noun and a verb.The space on your torso between your lowest rib and your hip is called your flank. Animals like cows and horses also have sides referred to as flanks. If a slice of meat comes from this part of an animal’s body, it is a flank cut or flank steak.
- Used in a sentence: The tree branch poked me in my left flank.
- Used in a sentence: The ball bounced off the left flank of the house.
- Used in a sentence: Orange trees flanked both sides of the river.
- Used in a sentence: The left flank collapsed under the intense arrow fire.
- Used in a sentence: The Roman soldiers charged out of the woods and managed to flank the Greek army.
Other Word Forms
- unflank verb (used with object)
- well-flanked adjective
Etymology
Origin of flank
before 1100; Middle English; late Old English flanc < Old French < Frankish; compare Old High German hlanca loin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“What in the world have we gotten ourselves into?” she whispered as the security officers climbed out of the boat to flank us on either side.
From Literature
Each piece in the Beverly Hills gallery, illuminated by an arched spotlight and flanked by a label chronicling its history, carried the aura of a Renaissance painting.
From Los Angeles Times
As we and other media outlets tried to approach him for comment, he stormed to his campaign car, flanked by police and his entourage.
From BBC
An azure booth is flanked by an abstracted mermaid sculpture, and elsewhere howling wolves are engraved into the bar tops.
From Los Angeles Times
Given the recent struggles of Cody Gakpo, who has played more minutes than any Liverpool forward this season, Ngumoha perhaps deserves a chance down his preferred left flank.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
