flank

/flæŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /flæŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈflaŋk/ (ame, mw)

flank — 名詞

  • flanksingular
  • flanksplural

1. the area of soft flesh on the side of an animal's or person's body, between the

1.名詞B2
釋義

脅腹

肋骨與臀部間的身體側面

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.

例句

Theo gently pressed the horse's flank to feel where the swelling was worst.

Theo 輕按馬的脅腹，找出腫脹最嚴重的位置。

collocation: [animal]'s flank (body part)

Linnea felt a stabbing pain in her right flank after running for six kilometres.

Linnea 跑了六公里後，感到右脅腹一陣刺痛。

medical context: pain in the flank

同義詞
  • side

    more general and common in everyday speech; 'side' can refer to any lateral area of the body, while 'flank' is more specific to the area between ribs and hip

  • loin

    more technical or butcher's term; 'loin' includes the flank area but also extends toward the spine

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

❌She felt a pain in her flank' (pointing to the lower back).
✅She felt a pain in her flank' is correct
💡the flank is on the side, between the ribs and hip, not the back of the body.

2. the sloping side of a mountain, hill, ridge, or other raised landform — or, more

2.名詞B2
釋義

側面

山丘或建築物的側邊

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.

例句

The climbers set up their base camp on the eastern flank of the mountain.

登山者在山的東側建立了大本營。

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.

Deepa 的家人在山丘的南側蓋了房子，以便享受午後的陽光。

同義詞
  • 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

❌We walked along the flank of the road.
✅We walked along the side of the road.
💡'flank' for a road sounds unnatural; use 'side' or 'edge' for flat, man-made features.

3. the left or right side of an army, fleet, or military formation when it is arran

3.名詞C1
釋義

側翼

軍隊陣形的左側或右側

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.

例句

The enemy cavalry attacked the army's left flank just before sunrise.

敵方騎兵在日出前襲擊了軍方的左側翼。

collocation: left/right flank of an army

General Amir ordered an extra regiment to reinforce the exposed flank of the formation.

Amir 將軍命令一個額外兵團加強陣形中暴露的側翼。

military context: protect/reinforce the flank

同義詞
  • wing

    used similarly for the side section of a military formation, but also common in non-military contexts (e.g. political wing)

  • side

    more general; 'flank' is the preferred military term for the outer edge of a formation

反義詞
  • 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

❌The flank of the building was guarded by soldiers.' (if meaning the side of a building).
✅The side of the building was guarded by soldiers.
💡'flank' for a building implies a military or strategic context; in ordinary description, use 'side'.

4. in team sports such as football or hockey, the area of the playing field near on

4.名詞C1
釋義

邊路

球場靠近邊線的區域

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.

例句

Zeynep plays on the left flank for the national football team.

Zeynep 在國家足球隊踢左邊路。

collocation: play on the [left/right] flank

Carlos passed the ball out to the flank, where the winger was waiting for it.

Carlos 將球傳到邊路，邊鋒正在那裡等著接球。

同義詞
  • wing

    very similar in sports contexts; 'wing' can refer to the player (winger) or the area, while 'flank' focuses on the zone

  • sideline

    the actual boundary line itself, not the area of play near it

反義詞
  • 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

❌The goalkeeper saved the ball on the flank.
✅The winger received the ball on the flank and crossed it in.
💡goalkeepers rarely operate on the flank; the term is used for outfield players in wide attacking positions.

5. a cut of beef taken from the abdominal muscles of the cow, between the ribs and

5.名詞B2
釋義

腹肉

動物脅腹部位的肉

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.

例句

Fatima grilled the flank steak until it was medium-rare on the outside.

Fatima 將腹肉牛排烤到外表呈五分熟。

collocation: flank steak

Umar bought a piece of flank from the butcher for the weekend barbecue.

Umar 從肉販那裡買了一塊腹肉，準備週末烤肉用。

同義詞
  • 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

❌I cooked a flank of beef for dinner.
✅I cooked flank steak for dinner.
💡'a flank' sounds odd for a meat dish; use 'flank steak' or 'a piece of flank'.

6. a playing position in rugby union or rugby league on either the left or right si

6.名詞C2
釋義

側翼前鋒

橄欖球爭球兩側的位置

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.

例句

Idris plays flank for the local rugby club on weekends.

Idris 週末在當地的橄欖球俱樂部擔任側翼前鋒。

collocation: plays flank (rugby position)

Boris was moved from flank to hooker at half-time when the starting hooker got injured.

Boris 在中場休息時從側翼前鋒調到鉤球前鋒，因為先發鉤球前鋒受傷了。

同義詞
  • 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 — 動詞