English

Etymology

From Portuguese , originally from Indian vernacular for a large artificial water reservoir, cistern, pool, etc., for example, Gujarati , or Marathi . Compare the Arabic verb .

In the sense of armoured vehicle, to disguise their nature, prototypes were described as tanks for carrying water (1915).

Noun

1. A container for liquids or gases, typically with a volume of several cubic metres.
2. An armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a gun in a turret, and moving on caterpillar tracks.
3. (Australian and Indian English), a reservoir or dam.
4. (American SouthWest English, esp Texas), a large metal container, usually placed near a wind-driven water pump, in an animal pen or field. By extension a small pond for the same purpose.
5. A very muscular and physically imposing person. Somebody who is built like a tank.
6. In USA scuba divers' usage, a compressed air or gas cylinder.
7. In online and offline role-playing games, a character designed primarily around damage absorption with offensive power as a close secondary consideration.

Synonyms

battle tank, combat tank, armour , tango

Hypernyms

armoured fighting vehicle, armored fighting vehicle, AFV, armoured combat vehicle, armored combat vehicle

Hyponyms

infantry tank , cavalry tank , fast tank , cruiser tank , tankette , light tank, medium tank, heavy tank, main battle tank, MBT, flame tank, flamethrower tank

Coordinate terms

armoured car, armoured train, armoured personnel carrier, armored personnel carrier, APC, infantry fighting vehicle, IFV, self-propelled gun, tank destroyer, assault gun

Verb

1. To fail or fall (often used in describing the economy or the stock market); to degenerate or decline rapidly; to plummet.
2. (Online RPG) To attract the attacks of a monster, so that the other people in the group can defeat the monster in question more efficiently.
3. To put fuel into a tank