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REFERENCE

bank

US //ˈbæŋk// UK //bˈæŋk// bank
  1. 1 financial institution (n.)
    A1 Beginner Finance

    a place where people keep their money safe and can borrow more.

    an institution for receiving, lending, exchanging, and safeguarding money.

    Example

    I need to go to the bank to withdraw some cash for the weekend.

    Example

    The central bank raised interest rates in a strategic attempt to curb inflation and stabilize the national currency.
  2. 2 river edge (n.)
    A2 Elementary Geography

    the sloping ground at the edge of a river or lake.

    the rising ground bordering a lake, river, or sea.

    Example

    We sat on the river bank and watched the boats go by.

    Example

    Heavy rainfall caused the river to burst its banks, flooding the adjacent farmland and damaging several historic structures.
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  1. 3 a row or group (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a row of similar things, like buttons, lights, or keys.

    a group or series of objects arranged together in a row or tier.

    Example

    The pilot looked at the bank of switches on the control panel.

    Example

    The data center houses a massive bank of servers, all cooled by an advanced liquid-nitrogen system.
  2. 4 storage for medical/data items (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    a place where important things are kept for later use, like blood or information.

    a place for storing a reserve supply of something for future use.

    Example

    The hospital asked for volunteers to donate to the blood bank.

    Example

    Researchers accessed a global data bank to compare genetic sequences from various populations across the continent.
  3. 5 lots of money (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a large amount of money.

    a significant sum of money or profit.

    Example

    He made serious bank after selling his old comic book collection.

    Example

    The tech startup began making bank after their app went viral on social media last quarter.
  4. 6 to deposit money (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Finance

    to put money into a bank account.

    to deposit money into a financial institution; takes a direct object.

    Example

    She banked the check as soon as she received it.

    Example

    The business banks its daily takings every evening to ensure the cash is secure overnight.
  5. 7 to tilt while turning (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Aviation

    to tilt to one side when turning, like an airplane or a bicycle.

    to tilt an aircraft or vehicle during a turn to maintain stability.

    Example

    The plane began to bank left as it approached the airport.

    Example

    The pilot had to bank sharply to avoid the storm clouds gathering over the mountain range.
  6. 8 to rely on (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to depend on something happening.

    to rely or depend on a specific outcome; usually followed by 'on'.

    Example

    I wouldn't bank on the weather being sunny for our picnic.

    Example

    The investors were banking on a market recovery by the end of the fiscal year, but the economic data suggested otherwise.

    Usage

    Usually used in the phrasal form 'bank on'.
Etymology 1

From Old English banc (“bank, hillock, embankment”), from Proto-Germanic *bankô.

Etymology 2

Various origins: * Borrowed from Dutch and German Bank (“bench”), a metonymic occupational surname for someone who worked with a bench or counter, like a money changer. * Borrowed from Danish and Swedish Bank, a topographic surname from bank (“sandbank”) or, alternatively, a nickname for a loud an noisy person, from bank (“noise”).

Idioms6 entries

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