flank

[ flangk ]

noun

1. the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip.
2. the thin piece of flesh constituting this part.
3. a slice of meat from the flank of an animal.
4. the side of anything, as of a building.
5. Military, Navy. the extreme right or left side of an army or fleet, or a subdivision of an army or fleet.
6. Fortification.
   1. the right or left side of a work or fortification.
   2. the part of a bastion that extends from the curtain to the face and protects the curtain and the opposite face.
7. 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)

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

   Synonyms: border, skirt, edge, line

2. to defend or guard at the flank.
3. Military. to menace or attack the flank of.
4. to pass around or turn the flank of.

verb (used without object)

1. to occupy a position at the flank or side.
2. to present the flank or side.

flank

/ flæŋk /

noun

1. the side of a man or animal between the ribs and the hip
2. (loosely) the outer part of the human thigh
3. a cut of beef from the flank
4. the side of anything, such as a mountain or building
5. the side of a naval or military formation

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by on or upon to be located at the side of (an object, building, etc)
2. military to position or guard on or beside the flank of (a formation, etc)
3. military to move past or go round (a flank)

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flank¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flank¹

C12: from Old French flanc , of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Col Yevgeny Sasyko, a former head of strategic communications with Ukraine’s general staff, said Russia places “powerful jaws” around the flanks of a city that slowly “grind though” defences until they collapse.

From BBC

Visible through one of the windows flanking the front door, she sat so still that she might have been mistaken for a statue, like the lion-dogs that guard the entrance to a Shinto shrine.

From Los Angeles Times

England subdued the atmosphere from the start, mixing calm possession with pace in attack, especially down the flanks, setting the tone for Carsley's finest night.

From BBC

While it's a tactic that the GOP has also used to prop up candidates on the opponents' left flank, Democrats have not used that as a basis to challenge an election result.

From Salon

They have walked for eight hours along dirt roads flanked by flood water to reach the forest.

From BBC

More About Flank

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. 

More generally, a flank is the side of anything.

• Used in a sentence: The ball bounced off the left flank of the house. 

In this sense, flank is used to mean to stand or be located at the side of something. A person or thing that flanks something is called a flanker.

• Used in a sentence: Orange trees flanked both sides of the river.

Flank is used in a military sense to refer to the sides of an army. For example, if an army was lined up in rows of soldiers, the soldiers on either end of the rows would make up the army’s flank. An army’s flank is described with directional terms, such as left or right, or compass directions, that is, north, south, east, or west.

• Used in a sentence: The left flank collapsed under the intense arrow fire. 

Flank is used in a similar sense as a verb to mean to attack or harass an army’s flank.

• Used in a sentence: The Roman soldiers charged out of the woods and managed to flank the Greek army. 

Where does flank come from?

The first records of flank come from before the 1100s. It comes from the Old French flanc.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to flank?

• flanker (noun)
• unflank (verb)
• well-flanked (adjective)

What are some synonyms for flank?

• loin
• side
• bound
• edge
• surrounded

What are some words that share a root or word element with flank? 

• flanker
• flanken
• flank speed

What are some words that often get used in discussing flank?

• military
• army
• navy
• meat
• maneuver
• ambush
• steak
• beef

How is flank used in real life?

The word flank often means a side of something or a side cut of meat.

My air fryer is my favourite. Making some flank steak in it tonight for dinner

— Francesca ミ☆ (@frantopaz) January 27, 2021

Conor McGregor has arrived. He was flanked by his girlfriend Dee, who was pushing their son, Conor Jr., in a stroller. Great scene.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 27, 2017

Lightning reported on the SE flank of the SCU complex

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) August 24, 2020

Try using flank!

Which of the following words would most likely be used to describe a flank?

A. top
B. bottom
C. side