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Meaning & use

tanks

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/tæŋks/
US/tæŋks/

“tanks” is a form of “tank”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    Large containers for holding liquid or gas, such as fuel, water, or fish.

    Grammar: Plural of tank: the storage tanks.

    Patterns

    • tanks of something
    • storage tanks

    Water tanks on the roof supply the whole building.

    The ship's fuel tanks were nearly empty.

    Divers carry air tanks on their backs.

  2. nounpluralmilitary

    Heavy armored military vehicles that run on metal tracks and carry a large gun.

    Grammar: Plural of tank: columns of tanks.

    Patterns

    • tanks and troops

    Tanks rolled across the border at dawn.

    The museum has several old tanks from the war.

    Soldiers trained to repair tanks in the field.

  3. verbintransitiveinformal

    Fails badly or drops sharply in value or performance.

    Grammar: Third-person singular of the informal verb tank: the film tanks at the box office.

    Patterns

    • something tanks

    Our app tanks whenever too many users log in.

    The stock tanks after every bad earnings report.

    If the film tanks, the studio will lose millions.

Word forms

singulartank

Common combinations

fish tanks
The shop sells fish tanks of all sizes.
fuel tanks
The plane's fuel tanks were refilled before takeoff.
water tanks
Farmers rely on water tanks during the dry season.
armored tanks
Armored tanks moved slowly through the narrow streets.
oxygen tanks
Climbers carried oxygen tanks up the mountain.

Synonyms and how they differ

containers
Containers is a general word for anything that holds things, while tanks are large and usually hold liquid or gas.
reservoirs
Reservoirs are large stored supplies of water, often outdoors, whereas tanks are built containers.
cisterns
Cisterns are tanks for storing water, often for a building, and sound more specialized.
flops
Flops fits the informal verb sense, meaning fails, but it is not about a sharp fall in value.

Word family

tank noun
singular of tanks
tank verb
to fail or fall sharply, informal
tanker noun
a ship or truck that carries liquid
tankful noun
the amount a tank can hold

Commonly confused: tanks or thanks?

tanks vs thanks

Thanks is an expression of gratitude. Tanks is a plural noun and is pronounced with a /t/, not a /θ/.

Practice

The factory stores chemicals in large steel ___ near the river.

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