# tanker

/ˈtæŋkɝ/ (US) · /tˈæŋkɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tanker
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a large ship

noun · CEFR B2

a very large ship used for carrying liquids like oil or chemicals across the ocean.

For teachers: a merchant vessel designed to transport liquids or gases in bulk, most commonly crude oil.

- The oil tanker was so large it took several miles to come to a full stop.
- Environmental regulations were tightened significantly after the tanker ran aground, spilling thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the sensitive coastal ecosystem.

### 2. a large truck

noun · CEFR B2

a heavy truck with a large tank on the back for carrying fuel or milk.

For teachers: a motor vehicle, typically a heavy goods vehicle, equipped with a large tank for transporting bulk liquids by road.

- A water tanker arrived at the village to help during the drought.
- The motorway was closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to drain the overturned petrol tanker safely.

### 3. an aircraft

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a plane that carries fuel to fill up other planes while they are flying.

For teachers: an aircraft designed for aerial refuelling, equipped to transfer fuel to other aircraft during flight.

- The fighter jets met the tanker over the ocean to refuel before their mission.
- Strategic operations in remote regions rely heavily on the availability of tankers to extend the operational range of tactical aircraft.

### 4. a tank crew member

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a soldier who works inside a military tank.

For teachers: a member of the crew of a military tank or an armoured unit.

- The veteran tanker explained how difficult it was to see out of the small windows.
- The museum interview provided a rare glimpse into the daily lives of tankers serving in the desert during the Second World War.

### 5. to carry extra fuel

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to carry more fuel than you need for a flight to avoid buying expensive fuel at the next airport.

For teachers: to carry a surplus of fuel on an outbound flight to avoid refuelling at a destination where costs are higher.

- The airline decided to tanker fuel because prices were much higher at the destination.
- While tankering fuel can save on procurement costs, the added weight increases the overall fuel burn during the cruise phase of the flight.

Usage: The verb is often used intransitively in commercial aviation contexts.

## Examples

- The oil tanker is waiting at the port.
- Emergency crews worked quickly to contain the spill after the fuel tanker overturned on the highway.
- Strategic military operations often rely on aerial tankers to provide mid-air refueling, significantly extending the operational range of fighter jets during long-distance missions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.