Word: tank Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī). A false friend can be found in North Germanic: dunk (“canister, keg”), 17th c. tönk, which appears derived from both Low German tunneke, Dutch tonneke (diminutive of "barrel"), and dunka (“to dunk, to dip under water, to moisten”). * In the sense of armoured vehicle, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature and due to physical resemblance. First attested in 1915, but in common usage only as of 1916. Displaced landship, and mostly displaced battlewagon. Pronunciation: /ˈtæŋk/, [ˈtʰæŋk], /ˈtaŋk/, [ˈtʰaŋk], [ˈtʰäŋk] 1. A closed container for liquids or gases. Example: The propane is stored in these tanks. Example: The tank contains unfiltered water. You really shouldn't drink from that. 2. An open container or pool for storing water or other liquids. Example: The contractors installed a new tank with gorgeous fish and corals. Example: The ore slurries are directed into an open tank outside the excavation site. 3. A pond, pool, or small lake (either natural or artificial). Example: The tanks are full and the grass is high. 4. The fuel reservoir of a vehicle. Example: We have brought the van to a garage after we found a leak in the tank. 5. The amount held by a container; a tankful. Example: I burned three tanks of gas on the drive to New York. 6. An armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a gun designed for direct fire, and moving on caterpillar tracks. Example: The journalist mistook the self-propelled artillery vehicle for a tank. Example: Few remember the female tanks that were produced between the World Wars. 7. A reservoir or dam. Labels: Australia, India 8. A structure of tightly overlapping leaves used by some bromeliads to retain water. 9. A very muscular and physically imposing person; somebody who is built like a tank. Labels: colloquial 10. A bouncer or doorman. Labels: UK, broadly, dated, slang 11. A unit or character designed primarily around damage absorption and holding the attention of the enemy (as opposed to dealing damage, healing, or other tasks). Example: The paladin can make for a decent tank, but I recommend that you get a class with better taunting skills. Example: See also: distraction carnifex 12. A prison cell, or prison generally. Labels: US, slang Example: drunk tank Example: The sheriff threw us in the tank without charges! 13. A metaphorical place where a player goes to contemplate a decision; see in the tank. Labels: slang 14. Ellipsis of tank engine or tank locomotive. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis Example: Before their conversion to 4-6-0 tender locomotives, the L.B. & S.C.R. Baltic tank engines Nos. 330 to 334 measured 50 ft. 5 in. over buffers; the nearest present approach to this figure is the 49 ft. 10½ in. of the remaining ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Hughes type 4-cylinder 4-6-4 tanks of the L.M.S.R. The Furness and G. & S.W.R. 4-6-4 tanks of the same company, all now scrapped, were, respectively, 49 ft. 1½ in. and 47 ft. 8 in. long. Example: Representing the older types now are some Stroudley 0-6-0 tanks, while a Drummond "C14" 0-4-0 tank might still be pottering about on the Town Quays as of yore. 15. Ellipsis of tank top. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis Example: T-BACK COTTON TANK Example: It pleased her more than she could say to know she walked on her own land, over dewed grass, wearing a tank and cotton pajama pants.