bank

[bæŋk]

bank Definition

• 1. a financial institution licensed to receive deposits and make loans
• 2. the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake
• 3. an elevated area of a sea, ocean, or lake bed that rises close to the water's surface and is a hazard to navigation

Using bank: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bank" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  I need to go to the bank to deposit this check.

• Example

  The river bank is a great place for a picnic.

• Example

  The ship ran aground on a sand bank.

bank Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bank

• lender
• shore
• embankment
• financial institution
• credit union

Antonyms for bank

• borrower
• debtor
• customer

Idioms Using bank

• break the bank

  to use up all of one's savings or spend more money than one can afford

  Example

  I'd love to go on a fancy vacation, but I don't want to break the bank.

• cry all the way to the bank

  to make a lot of money despite feeling guilty or ashamed about it

  Example

  He may not like his job, but he's crying all the way to the bank with his six-figure salary.

• on the bank of

  located next to a body of water

  Example

  We set up our tent on the bank of the river.

Phrases with bank

• bank on

  to depend on something happening or someone doing something

  Example

  I'm banking on you to finish the project on time.

• piggy bank

  a small container, typically in the shape of a pig, used by children for saving money

  Example

  My son loves putting his spare change in his piggy bank.

• bank shot

  a shot in billiards or pool where the player strikes the cue ball off a cushion before hitting the object ball

  Example

  He made the winning shot with a difficult bank shot.

Origins of bank

from Old Norse 'bakki', meaning 'bank, elevation'

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Summary: bank in Brief

The term 'bank' [bæŋk] has multiple meanings. It can refer to a financial institution that accepts deposits and makes loans, as in 'I need to go to the bank to deposit this check.' It can also refer to the land alongside a river or lake, as in 'The river bank is a great place for a picnic.' Additionally, it can refer to an elevated area of a sea, ocean, or lake bed that rises close to the water's surface and is a hazard to navigation, as in 'The ship ran aground on a sand bank.'