flank
/flæŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /flæŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈflaŋk/ (ame, mw)
flank — noun
- flanksingular
- flanksplural
1. the area of soft flesh on the side of an animal's or person's body, between the
the area of soft flesh on the side of an animal's or person's body, between the lowest ribs and the top of the hip bone.
Theo gently pressed the horse's flank to feel where the swelling was worst.
collocation: [animal]'s flank (body part)
Linnea felt a stabbing pain in her right flank after running for six kilometres.
medical context: pain in the flank
The dog's flank was thick with mud after the long walk through the forest.
Okonkwo placed one hand flat on the cow's flank to steady it while the vet checked its leg.
The wound on the cat's flank was deep enough to require three stitches from the vet.
文法句型
flank of [animal/person]
left/right flank
用法筆記
In everyday conversation about humans, 'side' or 'waist' is more common than 'flank'. The word 'flank' is used more often when describing animals or in medical contexts.
常見錯誤
2. the sloping side of a mountain, hill, ridge, or other raised landform — or, more
the sloping side of a mountain, hill, ridge, or other raised landform — or, more broadly, the side of any large object such as a building or structure.
The climbers set up their base camp on the eastern flank of the mountain.
collocation: eastern/western flank of a mountain
Deepa's family built their house on the southern flank of the hill to get the afternoon sun.
A narrow hiking trail winds along the rocky flank of the canyon for several kilometres.
The castle's western flank suffered heavy damage during the storm last winter.
Thick pine forests cover the northern flank of the ridge all the way down to the valley.
- side
the general, all-purpose word; 'flank' is more specific to raised or vertical surfaces
- slope
emphasises the angled surface of a hill or mountain; 'flank' describes the position, while 'slope' describes the incline
- face
used for the steep, exposed vertical surface of a cliff or mountain, not a gentle slope
文法句型
flank of [mountain/hill/ridge]
常見錯誤
3. the left or right side of an army, fleet, or military formation when it is arran
the left or right side of an army, fleet, or military formation when it is arranged for battle; also used figuratively for the outer edge of any organised group.
The enemy cavalry attacked the army's left flank just before sunrise.
collocation: left/right flank of an army
General Amir ordered an extra regiment to reinforce the exposed flank of the formation.
military context: protect/reinforce the flank
A surprise assault on the northern flank forced the troops to retreat to higher ground.
The commander moved archers to the right flank to cover the advancing infantry.
- center
the middle part of a formation, as opposed to either outer side
文法句型
left flank
right flank
flank of the army
用法筆記
This sense appears most often in historical military writing, strategic discussions, or board-game terminology. The phrase 'flank attack' or 'flanking manoeuvre' describes an attack from the side that catches the opponent off guard.
常見錯誤
4. in team sports such as football or hockey, the area of the playing field near on
in team sports such as football or hockey, the area of the playing field near one of the side boundary lines, or the attacking players who typically operate in that zone.
Zeynep plays on the left flank for the national football team.
collocation: play on the [left/right] flank
Carlos passed the ball out to the flank, where the winger was waiting for it.
The team's most dangerous attacks came from the right flank in the second half.
Serena crossed the ball from the flank straight into the penalty area.
The coach told the midfielders to spread out and use the flanks more often.
- center
the middle area of the field, as opposed to the sides
文法句型
play on the [left/right] flank
attack down the flank
用法筆記
In sports commentary, 'flank' is largely interchangeable with 'wing'. However, 'wing' can also refer specifically to the player position (winger), while 'flank' more often describes the area of the pitch.
常見錯誤
5. a cut of beef taken from the abdominal muscles of the cow, between the ribs and
a cut of beef taken from the abdominal muscles of the cow, between the ribs and the back leg — typically lean, long-grained, and best when cooked quickly at high heat or marinated first.
Fatima grilled the flank steak until it was medium-rare on the outside.
collocation: flank steak
Umar bought a piece of flank from the butcher for the weekend barbecue.
The recipe says to slice the flank thinly against the grain for the best texture.
Deepa marinated the flank in soy sauce and ginger for two hours before cooking it.
Flank steak is very lean, so it should be cooked quickly over high heat or it becomes tough.
- flank steak
the more precise term when referring to the cooked meat dish
- bavette
the French name for a similar cut; less common in English-language cooking
文法句型
flank steak
slice of flank
用法筆記
'Flank steak' is the most common expression. In British butchery, this cut may also be called 'flank' or 'flank steak'. It is different from 'skirt steak', which comes from the diaphragm muscle of the cow.
常見錯誤
6. a playing position in rugby union or rugby league on either the left or right si
a playing position in rugby union or rugby league on either the left or right side of the scrum, whose main duties are tackling the opposing team's ball carriers and winning possession of the ball.
Idris plays flank for the local rugby club on weekends.
collocation: plays flank (rugby position)
Boris was moved from flank to hooker at half-time when the starting hooker got injured.
A good flank must be fast enough to chase down opponents and strong enough to win the ball in the tackle.
- flanker
the more common term for this position in modern rugby; 'flank' is an abbreviated form
文法句型
play flank
plays at flank
用法筆記
In rugby, the flank is part of the back row of forwards. 'Open-side flank' and 'blind-side flank' distinguish which side of the scrum the player binds to. This term is almost exclusively used in rugby-playing regions (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa).
flank — verb
- flankpresent simple I / you / we / they
- flanks3rd person singular
- flanking-ing form
- flankedpast simple
1. to be positioned at the side of someone or something, or to have something posit
to be positioned at the side of someone or something, or to have something positioned on both sides — for example, a path flanked by trees, or a general flanked by guards.
Two tall oak trees flank the entrance to the old farmhouse.
collocation: flank the entrance / entrance is flanked by
The main road is flanked by rows of cherry blossom trees that bloom each spring.
Boris stood flanked by his two best friends in the wedding photograph.
A row of stone lions flanks the grand staircase of the city museum.
The garden path is flanked with lavender bushes that fill the air with their scent in summer.
- border
can describe one side or both; less specific about symmetry
- line
used for long, narrow objects arranged along a side, e.g. 'trees line the road'
- edge
focuses on the boundary; 'a path edged with flowers' suggests a narrower border than 'flanked'
- flank
implies a parallel arrangement on either side, often for decorative or protective purposes
文法句型
flank [something/someone]
be flanked by [something/someone]
be flanked with [something]
用法筆記
The passive construction 'be flanked by' is very common. It describes a symmetrical arrangement where something is between two matching things on either side. The active form 'flank' is less common but still used in descriptive or literary contexts.