tank
gb/tˈæŋk/ us/tˈæŋk/
A2
English
~ 2200
tartály, tank, harckocsi, elhasal, megbukik, leszerepel, nagyot bukik, szándékosan veszít, leadja a meccset, tankol, akvárium
NOUN
A2
1
tartály
B1
Usage pattern:
a tank of [liquid/gas]
The farm has a large water tank beside the barn.
A gazdaságban egy nagy víztartály áll az istálló mellett.
We need to refill the fuel tank before we leave.
Indulás előtt fel kell töltenünk az üzemanyagtartályt.
The fish were swimming happily in the glass tank.
The factory stores chemicals in huge metal tanks.
He checked the oil level in the storage tank.
Learner examples
The water tank is full.
Tele van a víztartály.
We have a fish tank at home.
Van otthon egy akváriumunk.
My car has a small fuel tank.
The oil tank is empty now.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tank' with 'can' or 'bottle'. A tank is usually much larger and fixed in place.
Meaning
Large container for liquid or gas
Collocations
water tank
|fuel tank
|storage tank
|oil tank
Synonyms
container (A general term for anything that holds something, not necessarily large or for liquids.)
Antonyms
pipe (A hollow tube for moving liquids or gases rather than storing them.)
Themes
daily life
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|science
Definition
A big container that holds liquid or gas.
A large, typically strong container used for storing liquids or gases.
NOUN
B1
2
The army deployed several tanks to the border.
A hadsereg több tankot vezényelt a határhoz.
A tank rolled down the street during the parade.
A felvonuláson egy tank gördült végig az utcán.
They trained to operate the new battle tanks.
The enemy's tanks were destroyed by air strikes.
Learner examples
The soldiers drive a big tank.
A katonák egy nagy tankot vezetnek.
A tank has a large gun.
A tanknak nagy ágyúja van.
The army uses tanks in war.
I saw a tank in the museum.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this meaning with 'fuel tank'. In this sense, 'tank' is a vehicle, not a container.
Meaning
Armored military vehicle with tracks
Collocations
battle tank
|army tank
|tank division
|tank crew
Synonyms
armored vehicle (Any military vehicle with armor, not always as heavily armed as a tank.)
Antonyms
jeep (A light military vehicle without heavy armor or weapons.)
Themes
military
|transport
|politics
|transportation
Definition
A strong military vehicle with big guns that moves on tracks.
A heavily armed, armored combat vehicle that moves on tracks.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to tank [something]
The movie tanked at the box office.
A film nagyot bukott a mozipénztáraknál.
Their business plan tanked after only six months.
Az üzleti tervük már hat hónap után megbukott.
He really tanked his presentation by forgetting the main points.
Learner examples
The new shop tanked after two months.
Az új bolt két hónap után becsődölt.
Her show tanked on TV.
A műsora megbukott a tévében.
Our team tanked in the last game.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical tanks. Here it is figurative and means to fail badly.
Meaning
To fail badly at something
Collocations
tank a project
|tank a performance
|tank the economy
Synonyms
flop (Informal; often used for entertainment or products that fail.)
Antonyms
succeed (To achieve what was intended or desired.)
Themes
business
|sports
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To do very badly at something and fail.
To perform very poorly or fail completely, especially in business, entertainment, or sports.
VERB
B2
SLANG
4
Usage pattern:
to tank [a game/match]
Some fans accused the team of tanking to get a better draft pick.
Néhány szurkoló azzal vádolta a csapatot, hogy szándékosan veszít, hogy jobb drafthelyhez jusson.
He was banned for tanking the match.
Eltiltották, mert szándékosan leadta a meccset.
They decided to tank the season to rebuild the squad.
Learner examples
The team tanked to get a good player next year.
A csapat szándékosan veszített, hogy jövőre jó játékost szerezhessen.
He tanked the game so his friend could win.
Szándékosan elvesztette a játszmát, hogy a barátja nyerhessen.
They did not try and lost on purpose.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with simply playing badly. In this sense, it is intentional losing.
Meaning
To intentionally lose a game
Collocations
tank a season
|tank the match
Synonyms
throw (Informal; means to lose intentionally, often due to bribery or strategy.)
Antonyms
compete honestly (To try your best to win without manipulation.)
Themes
sports
|business
Definition
To lose on purpose in a game or sport.
To deliberately lose or perform badly in a game, match, or competition, usually for strategic reasons.
NOUN
A2
5
akvárium
A2
She cleaned the fish tank every week.
Minden héten kitakarította az akváriumot.
There are colorful plants inside the fish tank.
Színes növények vannak az akváriumban.
The children watched the goldfish swim in the tank.
Learner examples
I have a small fish tank in my room.
Van egy kis akvárium a szobámban.
The fish swim in the glass tank.
A halak az üveg akváriumban úsznak.
We clean the fish tank every Sunday.
Meaning
Glass container for fish or aquatics
Collocations
fish tank
|aquarium tank
Synonyms
aquarium (A more formal term; can also refer to public facilities for marine life.)
Antonyms
pond (An outdoor body of water, not an indoor container.)
Themes
pets
|daily life
|animals
|daily_life
Definition
A glass box with water for keeping fish alive inside a building.
A glass or transparent container filled with water for keeping fish or other aquatic animals alive indoors.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tank
IPA
GB/tˈæŋk/
US/tˈæŋk/
Syllables & stress
tank (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tank)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tank
- Plural: tanks
Verb
- Base: tank
- 3rd Person Singular: tanks
- Present Participle: tanking
- Past: tanked
Word family
Forms
tanks
noun
tanking
verb
tanked
verb
Core family
tanker
noun
Advanced or less common
tankful
noun
Expressions
fuel tank
1/fjˈul tˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
Container in vehicle for fuel
The part of a car, plane, or other vehicle where fuel is kept.
Examples
- We need to fill up the fuel tank before our trip.
- The motorcycle's fuel tank holds about 15 liters.
in the tank for [someone/something]
1/ˈɪn ðə tˈæŋk fɚ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Strongly biased toward someone/something
To support someone or something too much and without being fair or balanced.
Examples
- Critics say the media is in the tank for that candidate.
- He’s clearly in the tank for big corporations.
tank top
1/tˈæŋk tˈɑp/
fixed phrase
Sleeveless shirt with straps and no collar
A shirt without sleeves that has straps over the shoulders.
Examples
- She wore a white tank top and jeans.
- Tank tops are popular in summer.
think tank
1/θˈɪŋk tˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
Organization that develops ideas and policies
A group of experts who study problems and suggest ideas, often for government or business.
Examples
- The report was produced by an independent think tank.
- She works for an education think tank that advises schools.