From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī).
A false friend can be found in North Germanic: dunk (“canister, keg”), 17th c. tönk, which appears derived from both Low German tunneke, Dutch tonneke (diminutive of "barrel"), and dunka (“to dunk, to dip under water, to moisten”).
* In the sense of armoured vehicle, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature and due to physical resemblance. First attested in 1915, but in common usage only as of 1916. Displaced landship, and mostly displaced battlewagon.
Meanings
(no-gloss, not-comparable) [no gloss]
Translations (7)
sk tankový (of container for liquids) · pl tankowy (of container for liquids) · pl zbiornikowy (of container for liquids) · sk tankový (of armoured fighting vehicle) · pl czołgowy (of armoured fighting vehicle) · cs tankový (of armoured fighting vehicle) · cs tankový (of container for liquids)
From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī).
A false friend can be found in North Germanic: dunk (“canister, keg”), 17th c. tönk, which appears derived from both Low German tunneke, Dutch tonneke (diminutive of "barrel"), and dunka (“to dunk, to dip under water, to moisten”).
* In the sense of armoured vehicle, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature and due to physical resemblance. First attested in 1915, but in common usage only as of 1916. Displaced landship, and mostly displaced battlewagon.
Meanings
A closed container for liquids or gases.
The tank contains unfiltered water. You really shouldn't drink from that.
The other room was a kitchen, with an open fireplace, a safe, a dresser and a tin sink, with a tap from the tank outside. 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 29:
The propane is stored in these tanks.
An open container or pool for storing water or other liquids.
The contractors installed a new tank with gorgeous fish and corals.
The ore slurries are directed into an open tank outside the excavation site.
A pond, pool, or small lake (either natural or artificial).
The tanks are full and the grass is high. 1896, Henry Lawson, Out Back:
The fuel reservoir of a vehicle.
We have brought the van to a garage after we found a leak in the tank.
The amount held by a container; a tankful.
I burned three tanks of gas on the drive to New York.
An armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a gun designed for direct fire, and moving on caterpillar tracks.
The journalist mistook the self-propelled artillery vehicle for a tank.
Few remember the female tanks that were produced between the World Wars.
Tank beats everything! Oh, man! I could do this all day! 2007 September 25, Bungie, Halo 3, Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360, level/area: The Ark:
(India, qualifier:New South Wales (Australia)) A reservoir or dam (as it is known in the rest of Australia).
A structure of tightly overlapping leaves used by some bromeliads to retain water.
(colloquial) A very muscular and physically imposing person; somebody who is built like a tank.
(UK, broadly, dated, slang) A bouncer or doorman.
(qualifier:roleplaying games; board games; roleplaying games; board games) A unit or character designed primarily around damage absorption and holding the attention of the enemy (as opposed to dealing damage, healing, or other tasks).
See also: distraction carnifex
The paladin can make for a decent tank, but I recommend that you get a class with better taunting skills.
(US, slang) A prison cell, or prison generally.
drunk tank
By the nature of imprisonment, one is perceived by free society as something subhuman. By the nature of being on a protective custody tank, a "gay tank", everyone there is seen as members of the lowest caste in the system. 1985 April 13, Philip Brasfield, “Echoes Inside of What's Outside”, in Gay Community News, page 4:
The sheriff threw us in the tank without charges!
(slang) A metaphorical place where a player goes to contemplate a decision; see in the tank.
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of tank engine or tank locomotive.
Before their conversion to 4-6-0 tender locomotives, the L.B. & S.C.R. Baltic tank engines Nos. 330 to 334 measured 50 ft. 5 in. over buffers; the nearest present approach to this figure is the 49 ft. 10½ in. of the remaining ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Hughes type 4-cylinder 4-6-4 tanks of the L.M.S.R. The Furness and G. & S.W.R. 4-6-4 tanks of the same company, all now scrapped, were, respectively, 49 ft. 1½ in. and 47 ft. 8 in. long. 1941 September, “The Why and the Wherefore: The Longest Tank Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, pages 431–432:
Representing the older types now are some Stroudley 0-6-0 tanks, while a Drummond "C14" 0-4-0 tank might still be pottering about on the Town Quays as of yore. 1952 February, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway Recorder in Wessex”, in Railway Magazine, page 133:
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of tank top.
T-BACK COTTON TANK 1990 November 18, “Earl’s Reebok Sale for the Holidays”, in Granite City Press-Record Journal, volume 6, number 46, Granite City, Ill., →OCLC, page 8A:
It pleased her more than she could say to know she walked on her own land, over dewed grass, wearing a tank and cotton pajama pants. 2008, Nora Roberts, Tribute, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, →ISBN, page 206:
On TikTok, #wifepleaser boasts more than 11.4 million views, while #wifepleasertank has racked up 13.9 million. […] Thanks to TikTok, there has been a mass adoption of the term “wife pleaser” in an attempt to rebrand the tank. 2023 August 9, Brooke Kato, “Gen Z loves the ‘wife beater’ tee — but they’re canceling the name”, in New York Post, New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Aug 2023:
I was wearing a tank and some cotton pants. 2022, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation, Minneapolis, Minn.: Broadleaf Books, 1517 Media, →ISBN:
tank controls (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · flail tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · infantry tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · flexitank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · flamethrower tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · medium tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · drunk tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankie (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank wagon (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank ace (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · peekaboo tank top (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tiger in one's tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank-stand (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · septic tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · heavy tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · settlement tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · battle tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · subtank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank stand (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · untank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · think tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · gun barrel tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · fish tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · isolation tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · intertank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankodrome (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankist (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · Yank tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · cryotank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank engine (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · cruiser tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · fishtank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tumbler tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · saddle tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank iron (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank trap (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · surge tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · shark tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · nanotank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankship (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank sinker (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · built like a tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · landing craft tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · flotation tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank car (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tanker (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · Tissot tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · gravity tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankroom (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · microtank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank-worm (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · flame tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · holding tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankside (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · pannier tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank park (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank loaf (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · light tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · dunk tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank locomotive (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · gunbarrel tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · anti-tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · detank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank ventilator (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankage (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankproof (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · ballast tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · retention tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · buoyancy tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · saddletank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankmaker (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · gas tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankful (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · combat tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · sugar in one's tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · sump tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank destroyer (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · drop tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankstand (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · expansion tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank-sinker (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · petrol tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankette (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank-slapper (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank town (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · touch tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · cavalry tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankmate (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankwise (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · in the tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · antitank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · Imhoff tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · superheavy tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankless (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · female tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank top (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · water tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tanklet (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankbusting (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank truck (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · oxygen tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · dipping tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankmaking (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · hydrotank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · fast tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · empty the tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · male tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank killer (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank drama (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · Pachuca tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tanksinker (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · side tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · float tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank slapper (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank suit (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tanktainer (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · supertank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankbuster (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tank farm (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · leave nothing in the tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · thermotank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankini (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tanklike (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · header tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · bobbin tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · towing tank (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · tankhood (Terms derived from tank (noun)) · main battle tank (Terms derived from tank (noun))
fr citerne (fuel reservoir) · it serbatoio (fuel reservoir) · lb Panzer (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi tankki (closed container for fluids) · hu tartály (large metal container for water) · km រថប្រយុទ្ធ (armoured fighting vehicle) · th รถถัง (armoured fighting vehicle) · et tank (closed container for fluids) · la autocurrus armatus (armoured fighting vehicle) · af tenk (armoured fighting vehicle) · sv tank (role playing character) · id tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · ko 전차 (armoured fighting vehicle) · hi टंकी (fuel reservoir) · it tanica (closed container for fluids) · szl čoug (armoured fighting vehicle) · az bak (fuel reservoir) · hu tartály (closed container for fluids) · vi bể (open container for liquids) · ko 탱크 (fuel reservoir) · ru аква́риум (open container for liquids) · mi kura (closed container for fluids) · cy tank (closed container for fluids) · hu tartály (open container for liquids) · sh rezervòār (fuel reservoir) · de Tank (fuel reservoir) · tg тонк (armoured fighting vehicle) · fa باک (fuel reservoir) · tr benzin deposu (fuel reservoir) · ta கண்மாய் (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · ar صِهْرِيج (closed container for fluids) · hu víztartály (large metal container for water) · km អាង (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · hu harckocsi (armoured fighting vehicle) · pt tanque (fuel reservoir) · syl ꠐꠦꠋꠇꠤ (closed container for fluids) · ta கவச தாங்கி (armoured fighting vehicle) · nl vat (closed container for fluids) · gl tanque de auga (large metal container for water) · ja タンク (fuel reservoir) · rm tanc (armoured fighting vehicle) · cv танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · kmr birk (open container for liquids) · sk nádrž (closed container for fluids) · my တိုင်ကီ (closed container for fluids) · yi טאַנק (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu tartály (fuel reservoir) · kk бак (closed container for fluids) · th ถัง (closed container for fluids) · mr टाकी (open container for liquids) · fi tankki (role playing character) · zh 罐 (fuel reservoir) · ta தொட்டி (open container for liquids) · my တိုင်ကီ (fuel reservoir) · be бак (closed container for fluids) · gd amar (closed container for fluids) · hy տանկ (armoured fighting vehicle) · gl tanque (open container for liquids) · hsb tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · lv cisterna (closed container for fluids) · fr aquarium (open container for liquids) · kk танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi polttoainesäiliö (fuel reservoir) · it energumeno (muscular and physically imposing person) · az dəbbabə (armoured fighting vehicle) · uk бак (fuel reservoir) · sv dyktub (closed container for fluids) · ru сосу́д (closed container for fluids) · ms tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi vesisäiliö (large metal container for water) · da tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · ur حَوض (closed container for fluids) · dz ཏེངཀ (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu itató (open container for liquids) · fa تَانْک (armoured fighting vehicle) · ka ავზი (fuel reservoir) · ota ماستله (open container for liquids) · eo cisterno (closed container for fluids) · hy բաք (fuel reservoir) · ty tura (closed container for fluids) · it cisterna (fuel reservoir) · hu tank (fuel reservoir) · ja ドラム缶 (closed container for fluids) · kix tânyù (large metal container for water) · pl czołg (armoured fighting vehicle) · fr citerne (closed container for fluids) · ta தொட்டி (large metal container for water) · ps ټانک (armoured fighting vehicle) · bg водое́м (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · de Becken (open container for liquids) · fr réservoir (fuel reservoir) · udm танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · gl tanque (muscular and physically imposing person) · fr tank (closed container for fluids) · ko 땅크 (armoured fighting vehicle) · tr depo (fuel reservoir) · tr tank (fuel reservoir) · ja 油槽 (fuel reservoir) · kmr tank (closed container for fluids) · fi säiliö (open container for liquids) · fa حُوْض (closed container for fluids) · ru цисте́рна (fuel reservoir) · hy բաք (closed container for fluids) · my တင့်ကား (armoured fighting vehicle) · cs tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · lv tanks (armoured fighting vehicle) · sk nádrž (fuel reservoir) · it serbatoio (closed container for fluids) · es tanque (fuel reservoir) · tl tangke (closed container for fluids) · zh 坦克 (armoured fighting vehicle) · mr रणगाडा (armoured fighting vehicle) · sh tȅnk (armoured fighting vehicle) · te చెరువు (fuel reservoir) · ro tanc rezervor (closed container for fluids) · de Panzer (armoured fighting vehicle) · cs nádrž (closed container for fluids) · la lacus (open container for liquids) · fr tank (role playing character) · ms tangki (closed container for fluids) · ka ტანკი (armoured fighting vehicle) · nb tank (fuel reservoir) · ug باك (fuel reservoir) · ta தொட்டி (closed container for fluids) · ia tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · sv muskelknutte (muscular and physically imposing person) · mt tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · nl tank (closed container for fluids) · uz bak (closed container for fluids) · de Tank (closed container for fluids) · fr bonbonne (closed container for fluids) · pl zbiornik (closed container for fluids) · hu tározó (closed container for fluids) · az دبابه (armoured fighting vehicle) · sw tangi (closed container for fluids) · is tank (role playing character) · hu ciszterna (closed container for fluids) · el άρμα μάχης (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi allas (open container for liquids) · de Behälter (closed container for fluids) · lt tankas (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu üzemanyagtartály (fuel reservoir) · sq rezervuar (closed container for fluids) · tr tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · es tanque (open container for liquids) · ky бак (closed container for fluids) · ota حوض (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · kl tanki (armoured fighting vehicle) · es yogo (closed container for fluids) · is skriðdreki (armoured fighting vehicle) · sh те̏нк (armoured fighting vehicle) · bg басе́йн (open container for liquids) · pt tanque (armoured fighting vehicle) · ky танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · cs nádrž (fuel reservoir) · fr blindé (armoured fighting vehicle) · io tanko (closed container for fluids) · zh 戰車 /战车 (armoured fighting vehicle) · mr टाकी (closed container for fluids) · da beholder (closed container for fluids) · mk резервоа́р (closed container for fluids) · vo bländ (armoured fighting vehicle) · uz bak (fuel reservoir) · gl tanque (closed container for fluids) · gd amar (fuel reservoir) · gl carro de combate (armoured fighting vehicle) · uz tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · ja タンク (closed container for fluids) · ru ёмкость (closed container for fluids) · yue 坦克 (armoured fighting vehicle) · fa تَانْکِی (closed container for fluids) · sah тааҥка (armoured fighting vehicle) · ps ټانک (closed container for fluids) · es calderín (closed container for fluids) · tg бак (fuel reservoir) · he מֵיכָל (closed container for fluids) · haw pahu (closed container for fluids) · kk бак (fuel reservoir) · sq tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu hordó (closed container for fluids) · sh резерво̀а̄р (fuel reservoir) · af tenk (closed container for fluids) · nb tanks (armoured fighting vehicle) · mi kurawai (closed container for fluids) · sh rezervòār (closed container for fluids) · tk tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · kmr birk (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · az bak (closed container for fluids) · be танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · nn stridsvogn (armoured fighting vehicle) · lo ລົດຖັງ (armoured fighting vehicle) · vi thùng (closed container for fluids) · sl rezervoar (fuel reservoir) · ca tanc (closed container for fluids) · ba танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · id tangki (closed container for fluids) · mk тенк (armoured fighting vehicle) · lv cisterna (fuel reservoir) · he טַנְק (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi lampi (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · el δεξαμενή (fuel reservoir) · nn tank (closed container for fluids) · ur ٹَینْک (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu tank (role playing character) · fa مَخْزَن (fuel reservoir) · gl tanque (armoured fighting vehicle) · vi xe tăng (armoured fighting vehicle) · lv tvertne (fuel reservoir) · fr armoire à glace (muscular and physically imposing person) · dz དམག་འཁོར (armoured fighting vehicle) · id tangki (fuel reservoir) · ar فِنْطَاس (closed container for fluids) · nl tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi polttoainetankki (fuel reservoir) · fa تانْک (armoured fighting vehicle) · es carro de combate (armoured fighting vehicle) · alt танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · ar دَبَّابَة (armoured fighting vehicle) · sk tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · ms kereta kebal (armoured fighting vehicle) · mk резервоа́р (fuel reservoir) · tg бак (closed container for fluids) · ota تكنه (open container for liquids) · ro tanc (armoured fighting vehicle) · th แท้งค์ (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru балло́н (closed container for fluids) · nl tank (fuel reservoir) · sv pansarvagn (armoured fighting vehicle) · la lacus (closed container for fluids) · it cisterna (closed container for fluids) · tl tangke (armoured fighting vehicle) · km រថក្រោះ (armoured fighting vehicle) · lt bakas (closed container for fluids) · fi tankki (fuel reservoir) · km ធុង (closed container for fluids) · de Tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · th ถังน้ำ (closed container for fluids) · nb stridsvogn (armoured fighting vehicle) · bg цисте́рна (large metal container for water) · io tanko (armoured fighting vehicle) · qu tanki (armoured fighting vehicle) · el δοχείο (closed container for fluids) · zh 箱 (fuel reservoir) · acm تانكي (closed container for fluids) · mr टँक (role playing character) · zh 坦克 (armoured fighting vehicle) · sh резерво̀а̄р (closed container for fluids) · fr réservoir (closed container for fluids) · ota دبابه (armoured fighting vehicle) · vi bể (fuel reservoir) · bg танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · fr char de combat (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi säiliö (closed container for fluids) · th รถรบ (armoured fighting vehicle) · da tank (closed container for fluids) · es cisterna (closed container for fluids) · mn танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · az tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · fr bouteille (closed container for fluids) · es tanque (armoured fighting vehicle) · is tankur (closed container for fluids) · es tanque (closed container for fluids) · mk цистерна (fuel reservoir) · hu ciszterna (open container for liquids) · hu tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · ky бак (fuel reservoir) · sa सेनायानम् (armoured fighting vehicle) · th รถเกราะ (armoured fighting vehicle) · km ធុង (fuel reservoir) · km តង់ (armoured fighting vehicle) · da kampvogn (armoured fighting vehicle) · ko 탱크 (armoured fighting vehicle) · el δεξαμενή (closed container for fluids) · pl bak (fuel reservoir) · ja 貯水槽 (fuel reservoir) · pl zbiornik (fuel reservoir) · ka ავზი (closed container for fluids) · eo tanko (armoured fighting vehicle) · sv stridsvagn (armoured fighting vehicle) · fo stríðsvognur (armoured fighting vehicle) · vi két (fuel reservoir) · nn tanks (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru бак (fuel reservoir) · km សា (armoured fighting vehicle) · nb tank (closed container for fluids) · th ถัง (fuel reservoir) · fr cuve (open container for liquids) · uk бак (closed container for fluids) · ia tank (closed container for fluids) · id tabung (closed container for fluids) · lt bakas (fuel reservoir) · tg ҳавз (closed container for fluids) · et tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · pt tanque (closed container for fluids) · sl rezervoar (closed container for fluids) · kix tânyù (closed container for fluids) · hu tározó (open container for liquids) · bg резервоа́р (fuel reservoir) · pl basen (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · cy tanc (closed container for fluids) · hu tócsa (small pond in an animal pen) · ru цисте́рна (closed container for fluids) · fr tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · id mobil baja (armoured fighting vehicle) · ca dipòsit (closed container for fluids) · sw kifaru (armoured fighting vehicle) · it carro armato (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu tank (open container for liquids) · hi हौज़ (closed container for fluids) · zh 鐵殼車 /铁壳车 (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru резервуа́р (fuel reservoir) · uk танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · fa حَوْض (closed container for fluids) · ceb tangke (closed container for fluids) · lo ຖັງ (closed container for fluids) · mi taika (closed container for fluids) · haw kaʻa kaua (armoured fighting vehicle) · ro rezervor (closed container for fluids) · fa مَخْزَن (closed container for fluids) · sl tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · de Tank (open container for liquids) · hu tank (closed container for fluids) · zh 池 (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · hi टंकी (closed container for fluids) · az تانق (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu melák (muscular and physically imposing person) · hi टैंक (armoured fighting vehicle) · ro recipient (closed container for fluids) · as টেংকি (closed container for fluids) · kix tânyù (open container for liquids) · ja 戦車 (armoured fighting vehicle) · ar خَزَّان (fuel reservoir) · mt karru armat (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru танк (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi allas (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · wa tank (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu tározó (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · fi lihaskimppu (muscular and physically imposing person) · be бак (fuel reservoir) · es tanque (muscular and physically imposing person) · sv tank (closed container for fluids) · pt carro de combate (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi tankki (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru водоём (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · zh 罐 (closed container for fluids) · lo ຖັງ (armoured fighting vehicle) · hu hordó (open container for liquids) · ru таз (open container for liquids) · mr टांकें (fuel reservoir) · fr malabar (muscular and physically imposing person) · fr réservoir (open container for liquids) · ru бак (closed container for fluids) · eu gerra-gurdi (armoured fighting vehicle) · ja 缶 (closed container for fluids) · fr char d'assaut (armoured fighting vehicle) · it bombola (closed container for fluids) · bg резервоа́р (closed container for fluids) · ota بركه (pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial) · bn ট্যাংক (armoured fighting vehicle) · ca tanc (armoured fighting vehicle) · fi panssarivaunu (armoured fighting vehicle) · ug تانكا (armoured fighting vehicle) · ru танк (role playing character) · lv tvertne (closed container for fluids) · zh 坦克車 /坦克车 (armoured fighting vehicle) · ko 탱크 (closed container for fluids) · sgs tanks (armoured fighting vehicle) · da tank (fuel reservoir)
From Portuguese tanque (“tank, liquid container”), from an Indo-Aryan language, likely Gujarati ટાંકી (ṭā̃kī, “cistern”) or Marathi टांकी (ṭāṅkī).
A false friend can be found in North Germanic: dunk (“canister, keg”), 17th c. tönk, which appears derived from both Low German tunneke, Dutch tonneke (diminutive of "barrel"), and dunka (“to dunk, to dip under water, to moisten”).
* In the sense of armoured vehicle, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water to disguise their nature and due to physical resemblance. First attested in 1915, but in common usage only as of 1916. Displaced landship, and mostly displaced battlewagon.
Meanings
To fail or fall (often used in describing the economy or the stock market); to degenerate or decline rapidly; to plummet.
"[...] If the economy has tanked... then we don't want to over-promise and under-deliver." 2022 October 5, “Network News: Private sector's role in a publicly-owned railway”, in RAIL, number 967, page 16:
He told me about all the odd jobs he'd taken after I was born, when Michigan's economy was tanking. For one, he crisscrossed the Midwest buying old carpets from dentists' offices. 2008 October, Davy Rothbart, “How I caught up with dad”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 8, →ISSN, page 112:
(Internet) To fail or fall (often used in describing the economy or the stock market); to degenerate or decline rapidly; to plummet. ▸ to flop; drop in popularity (of a musician/group)
To attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat, so that one's teammates can defeat the enemy in question more efficiently.
(transitive) To put (fuel, etc.) into a tank.
Concrete below ground must be fully tanked to prevent water uptake.
Sometimes oils are tanked for months or years at a time (e.g., linseed oil). 1913, Geoffrey Martin, Industrial and manufacturing chemistry:
To deliberately lose a sports match with the intent of gaining a perceived future competitive advantage.
Beforehand, Swedish [national ice hockey team] coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson had ruminated about tanking against Slovakia to avoid powerful Canada or the Czechs in the quarters [i.e., quarterfinals of the 2006 Winter Olympic tournament], telling Swedish television, "One is cholera, the other the plague." 2006 March 6, Michael Farber, “Swede Success”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), Sports Illustrated, archived from the original on 04 Nov 2012:
(slang) To resist damage; to be attacked without being hurt.
Barda could BFR and I doubt She hulk is tanking a blow from her rod, so she takes. 2016 July 22, Si-Phon Dom, “Big Barda Vs She Hulk”, in Comics Amino, retrieved 19 Jun 2017:
Unless Bane can tank Helicarrier-busting explosions I'm not sure how he stands a chance. 2015 March 1, DudeFuckMath, “Bane [DC] vs Iron Fist [Marvel]”, in Reddit (r/whowouldwin), retrieved 19 Jun 2017:
A weakened Superman tanked an explosion 50 times larger than the Kepler's Supernova and the electromagnetic shock wave hit him. 2016 June 2, MercinWithAMouth, “Superman Stongest Feat Ever”, in Comic Vine Forums, retrieved 19 Jun 2017:
(slang) To contemplate a decision for a long time; to go in the tank.
(Singapore, colloquial) To stand; to tolerate.
(Singapore, colloquial) To willingly take on an undesirable task or burden.
es tanquear (to put into a tank) · fr tanker (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · es arrostrar (to resist damage; to be attacked without being hurt.) · pt tankar (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · sv tanka (to put into a tank) · tr tanklamak (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · ta வீழ் (to fail or fall) · fr s'effondrer (to fail or fall) · de tanken (to put into a tank) · sv påfylla (to put into a tank) · fr encaisser (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · da pansre (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · fr dégringoler (to fail or fall) · it tankare (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · nb tanke (to put into a tank) · bg спадам (to fail or fall) · da modstå (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · fr absorber (to resist damage; to be attacked without being hurt.) · es tanquear (video games: to attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat) · sv fylla på (to put into a tank) · fr encaisser (to resist damage; to be attacked without being hurt.) · ta தோல் (to fail or fall)