How Do You Spell FLANK?

Pronunciation: [flˈaŋk] (IPA)

The word "flank" is spelled with a silent "k" at the end, which may confuse non-native English speakers. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /flæŋk/. The "fl" sound is pronounced like "f+l," the "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "cat," the "ng" is pronounced like the "ng" in "sing," and the "k" is silent. This word can be used as a noun or a verb, and it usually refers to the side or edge of a person or animal.

FLANK Meaning and Definition

  1. Flank is a noun and a verb with different meanings, primarily associated with the sides or boundaries of an object, group, or area.

    As a noun, flank refers to the side parts of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip, or the fleshy part of the body between the waist and the thigh. In military terms, it refers to the right or left side of a formation, army, or unit. Additionally, in anatomy, flank denotes the upper portion of a quadruped animal's lateral body region.

    As a verb, flank refers to the act of being positioned or standing on either side of something or someone, especially for protection or support. In military tactics, it refers to the action of moving around and approaching the side of the enemy's forces or position. Flanking can be employed to gain a strategic advantage by attacking or surprising the opponent from an unexpected direction.

    In a broader context, flank can also denote the boundaries of an area, such as the outskirts or sides of a city, or the bordering regions of a country.

    Overall, flank encompasses the sides, borders, or edges of various objects, entities, or territories, both in physical and metaphorical senses, and it often implies a position or movement that involves protection, support, or strategic advantage.

  2. The side of the body between the pelvis and the ribs, latus.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. • The fleshy or muscular part of an animal situated between the ribs and the hip; the side of anything, as of an army; the extreme right or left of a military position; the part of a work placed to defend another.
    • To attack the side or flank of an army; to pass round the side or flank; to border; to touch; to be posted on the side.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for FLANK *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for FLANK

Etymology of FLANK

The word "flank" originated from the Middle English word "flanke", which can be traced back to the Old French word "flanc". The Old French term, in turn, derived from the Frankish word "hlaƀ", meaning "side" or "flank". The Frankish language was Germanic and was spoken by the Franks, a group of West Germanic tribes that inhabited the regions of modern-day France and Germany during the early medieval period (5th-9th centuries). Through the influence of Old French, the term made its way into Middle English as "flank", retaining its meaning of the side or the fleshy part of the body. Over time, "flank" developed additional meanings, such as the side of a military formation or the side of an animal's body.

Idioms with the word FLANK

  • flank (up)on sm or sth The idiom "flank (up) on someone or something" refers to someone or something approaching from the side, usually with the intention of attacking or surprising. It implies a strategic maneuver where an individual or a group surrounds or outflanks a target in order to gain an advantage or catch them unawares.

Similar spelling words for FLANK

Plural form of FLANK is FLANKS

Conjugate verb Flank

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have flanked
you would have flanked
he/she/it would have flanked
we would have flanked
they would have flanked
I would have flank
you would have flank
he/she/it would have flank
we would have flank
they would have flank

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been flanking
you would have been flanking
he/she/it would have been flanking
we would have been flanking
they would have been flanking

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would flank
you would flank
he/she/it would flank
we would flank
they would flank

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be flanking
you would be flanking
he/she/it would be flanking
we would be flanking
they would be flanking

FUTURE

I will flank
you will flank
he/she/it will flank
we will flank
they will flank

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be flanking
you will be flanking
he/she/it will be flanking
we will be flanking
they will be flanking

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have flanked
you will have flanked
he/she/it will have flanked
we will have flanked
they will have flanked

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been flanking
you will have been flanking
he/she/it will have been flanking
we will have been flanking
they will have been flanking

IMPERATIVE

you flank
we let´s flank

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to flank

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was flanking
you were flanking
he/she/it was flanking
we were flanking
they were flanking

PAST PARTICIPLE

flanked

PAST PERFECT

I had flanked
you had flanked
he/she/it had flanked
we had flanked
they had flanked

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been flanking
you had been flanking
he/she/it had been flanking
we had been flanking
they had been flanking

PRESENT

I flank
you flank
he/she/it flanks
we flank
they flank

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am flanking
you are flanking
he/she/it is flanking
we are flanking
they are flanking

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

flanking

PRESENT PERFECT

I have flanked
you have flanked
he/she/it has flanked
we have flanked
they have flanked

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been flanking
you have been flanking
he/she/it has been flanking
we have been flanking
they have been flanking

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it flank

SIMPLE PAST

I flanked
you flanked
he/she/it flanked
we flanked
they flanked

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