sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
"they pulled the canoe up on the bank"
"he sat on the bank of the river and watched the currents"
a financial institution that accepts deposits and channels the money into lending activities
"he cashed a check at the bank"
"that bank holds the mortgage on my home"
a supply or stock held in reserve for future use (especially in emergencies)
"The city established an emergency food bank to ensure families had enough supplies during the winter storm."
the funds held by a gambling house or the dealer in some gambling games
"he tried to break the bank at Monte Carlo"
a container (usually with a slot in the top) for keeping money at home
"the coin bank was empty"
a building in which the business of banking transacted
"the bank is on the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon"
a flight maneuver; aircraft tips laterally about its longitudinal axis (especially in turning)
"the plane went into a steep bank"
An institution where one can place and borrow money and take care of financial affairs.
"The ancient historian marveled at how the entire crew could strike their benches and oars in perfect unison to propel the massive warship forward."
An edge of river, lake, or other watercourse.
A row or panel of items stored or grouped together.
A bench, as for rowers in a galley; also, a tier of oars.
In plain English: A bank is a place where people keep their money safe and can borrow it for things they need.
"He went to the bank to deposit his paycheck."
Usage: In modern usage, a bank is primarily a financial institution or a sloping landmass beside a river. The historical meaning referring to a rowing bench is now obsolete and should not be used in contemporary speech.
act as the banker in a game or in gambling
"The casino hired him to bank on their high-stakes poker table because he was trusted not to cheat."
be in the banking business
"The new CEO announced that her company would soon go into the banking business to offer better loan rates locally."
To deal with a bank or financial institution, or for an institution to provide financial services to a client.
"The librarian carefully banked the books on the shelf to keep them aligned perfectly."
To roll or incline laterally in order to turn.
To arrange or order in a row.
In plain English: To bank something is to move it into a pile or heap, usually by throwing it there with your hands.
"She banked the books neatly on the shelf."
Usage: Use the verb bank to describe arranging items, such as books or notes, neatly in an orderly row. This usage implies organizing something systematically rather than depositing money or leaning against a surface.
A village in the New Forest in Hampshire, England.
"We spent a lovely afternoon wandering through Bank to admire the historic cottages and see the deer grazing nearby."
The word bank comes from the Italian banca, which originally meant a counter or moneychanger's bench. It entered English via Middle French and Middle English to describe both financial institutions and the sloping sides of rivers.