~ 1
■ noun
1》 the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake.
2》 a long, high mound or elevation.
3》 a transverse slope given to a road, railway, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed round a curve.
4》 a set of similar things grouped together in rows: ~s of lights.
5》 the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight.
6》 the cushion of a pool table.
■ verb
1》 heap or form into a mass or mound.
2》 (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt sideways in making a turn.
3》 build (a road, railway, or sports track) with a ~ on a bend.
4》 Brit. (of a locomotive) provide additional power for (a train) in ascending an incline.
5》 (of an angler) land (a fish).
Word History
The words ~ 1 , ~ 2 , and bench are related to each other, all three entering English at different times but deriving ultimately from the same Germanic root. Bank meaning 'land beside water' developed in Middle English from the Old Norse word bakki 'ridge of ground'. However, the sense 'a set of similar things grouped together in rows' comes from an early use of ~ to mean 'bench' (from French banc ): the word was applied to the bench occupied by the men pulling each oar in a galley, and hence to a line of oars set at the same height. Bank meaning 'financial organization' entered English in the 15th century from French banque or Italian banca , from medieval Latin banca 'bench', and originally referred to a table on which a moneylender carried out his business, the forerunner of the modern financial institution.
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 a financial establishment that uses money deposited by customers for investment, pays it out when required, makes loans at interest, and exchanges currency.
↘( the ~ ) the store of money or tokens held by the ~er in some gambling or board games.
2》 a stock of something available for use when required: a blood ~.
3》 a site or receptacle where something may be deposited for recycling: a paper ~.
■ verb
1》 deposit (money or valuables) in a ~.
↘have an account at a particular ~.
2》 ( ~ on ) rely on confidently.
3》 informal win or earn (a sum of money).
Phrases
break the ~ [usu. with negative ] informal cost more than one can afford.
Origin
C15: from Fr. banque or Ital. banca ; see word history at ~ 1 .