embank

American  

[em-bangk] / ɛmˈbæŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose or protect with an embankment.

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embank British  

/ ɪmˈbæŋk /

verb

1. (tr) to protect, enclose, or confine (a waterway, road, etc) with an embankment

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Other Word Forms

• unembanked adjective

Etymology

Origin of embank

First recorded in 1640–50; em- ¹ + bank ¹

Example Sentences

I trust that if urban improvers ever want to embank the "Mall" or the eyot, public opinion will see its way to keeping this unique bit of the London river as it is.

From The Naturalist on the Thames by Cornish, C. J. (Charles John)

They excavated a space, to the depth of three or four feet, and used the earth they threw out to embank the walls raised upon the edge of the excavation.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 08, No. 49, November, 1861 by Various

Exhausted, he still made light of his achievement––climbing through day and night to arrive before the snow should embank around him.

From The Eye of Dread by Erskine, Payne

A few attempts had been made to deepen and embank the natural streams, but with slender success.

From The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 1 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

It seemed so very odd that anybody should embank a roadway.

From She by Haggard, Henry Rider