tank
n. countablen. a large container for holding liquids or gas. It can also mean a heavy military vehicle with tracks and big guns.
n. a large receptacle or storage chamber for liquid or gas; alternatively, a heavy armored fighting vehicle carrying guns and moving on a continuous articulated track.
The fish swim around in their glass tank.
The technician checked the pressure levels in the oxygen tank before the divers entered the water.
Engineers designed the storage tank with reinforced steel to withstand the immense pressure of the liquefied natural gas stored within its double-walled structure.
From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī). Compare the Arabic verb اِسْتَنْقَعَ (istanqaʕa, “to become stagnant, to stagnate”). In the sense of armoured vehicle, first attested in 1915, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature as well as due to physical resemblance.
Commonly used in compound nouns like 'fuel tank', 'water tank', or 'think tank'.
- 01
empty the tank
To make the utmost effort; to contribute to the absolute limit of one's energy and abilities.
- 02
think tank
A group of people who collectively perform research and develop reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporate, government, or special interests.