fluke

¹ American  

[flook] / fluk /

noun

1. the part of an anchor that catches in the ground, especially the flat triangular piece at the end of each arm.

2. a barb, or the barbed head, of a harpoon, spear, arrow, or the like.

3. either half of the triangular tail of a whale.

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fluke ² American  

[flook] / fluk /

noun

1. an accidental advantage; stroke of good luck.

   He got the job by a fluke.

2. an accident or chance happening.

3. an accidentally successful stroke, as in billiards.

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fluke ³ American  

[flook] / fluk /

noun

1. any of several American flounders of the genus Paralichthys, especially P. dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. any of various other flatfishes.

3. a trematode.

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fluke ¹ British  

/ fluːk /

noun

1. an accidental stroke of luck

2. any chance happening

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verb

1. (tr) to gain, make, or hit by a fluke

fluke ² British  

/ fluːk /

noun

1. any parasitic flatworm, such as the blood fluke and liver fluke, of the classes Monogenea and Digenea (formerly united in a single class Trematoda )

2. another name for flounder 2

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fluke ³ British  

/ fluːk /

noun

1. Also called: flue.  a flat bladelike projection at the end of the arm of an anchor

2. either of the two lobes of the tail of a whale or related animal

3. Also called: flue.  the barb or barbed head of a harpoon, arrow, etc

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fluke Scientific  

/ flo̅o̅k /

1. Either of the two flattened fins of a whale's tail.

2. See trematode

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Other Word Forms

• flukeless adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluke¹

First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps special use of fluke ³

Origin of fluke²

First recorded in 1855–60; of obscure origin; compare English dialect fluke “a guess”

Origin of fluke³

First recorded before 900; Middle English flok, fluke, flewke, Old English flōc; cognate with Old Norse flōki; compare Old High German flah “flat” ( German flach )

Example Sentences

A sports team that consistently ranks in the top tier of its division is unlikely to be a fluke.

From Salon

Magnusson’s fame was a fluke, resulting from a conversation between Jane and an American friend in the publishing business, Stephen Morrison.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite my cat trepidation, I saw him again, just to make sure my first-date magic wasn’t a fluke.

From Los Angeles Times

For those who grew up with Ms. Blume’s star fixed immutably in their literary firmament, it’s hard to think of her success as a fluke of time and place.

From The Wall Street Journal

But here they proved victory over Hull KR was no fluke and it could prove a season of surprises for the Knights, while the Airlie Birds contemplated a second successive defeat.

From BBC

Related Words

• blessing
• quirk