BANK

n. & v. --n. 1 a a financial establishment which uses money deposited by customers for investment, pays it out when required, makes loans at interest, exchanges currency, etc. b a building in which this business takes place. 2 = piggy bank. 3 a the money or tokens held by the banker in some gambling games. b the banker in such games. 4 a place for storing anything for future use (blood bank; data bank). --v. 1 tr. deposit (money or valuables) in a bank. 2 intr. engage in business as a banker. 3 intr. (often foll. by at, with) keep money (at a bank). 4 intr. act as banker in some gambling games. øbank balance the amount of money held in a bank account at a given moment. bank-bill 1 Brit. a bill drawn by one bank on another. 2 US = BANKNOTE. bank-book = PASSBOOK. bank card = cheque card. bank holiday a day on which banks are officially closed, (in the UK) usu. kept as a public holiday. bank manager a person in charge of a local branch of a bank. the Bank of England the central bank of England and Wales, issuing banknotes and having the Government as its main customer. bank on rely on (I'm banking on your help). bank statement a printed statement of transactions and balance issued periodically to the holder of a bank account. [F banque or It. banca f. med.L banca, bancus, f. Gmc: rel. to BANK(1)]