bank¹ / bangk/ • n. 1. the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake: willows lined the bank.2. a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance: a bank of clouds a bank of snow. ∎  an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank. ∎  a transverse slope given to a road, railroad, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed around a curve. ∎  the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight.3. a set or series of similar things, esp. electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows: the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console.4. the cushion of a pool table: [as adj.] a bank shot. • v. [tr.] 1. heap (a substance) into a mass or mound: the rain banked the soil up behind the gate. ∎  [intr.] rise or form into a mass or mound. ∎  heap a mass or mound of a substance against (something): people were banking their houses with earth. ∎  heap (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly: she could have made a fire and banked it with dirt.2. (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn: [intr.] the plane banked as if to return to the airport [tr.] I banked the aircraft steeply and turned. ∎  [intr.] build (a road, railroad, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering.3. (in pool and other games) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a backboard or cushion.bank² • n. a financial establishment that invests money deposited by customers, pays it out when required, makes loans at interest, and exchanges currency: I paid the money straight into my bank. ∎  a stock of something available for use when required: a blood bank building a bank of test items is the responsibility of teachers. ∎  a place where something may be safely kept: the computer's memory bank. ∎  (the bank) the store of money or tokens held by the banker in some gambling or board games. ∎  the person holding this store; the banker.• v. [tr.] deposit (money or valuables) in a bank: I banked the check. ∎  [intr.] have an account at a particular bank: he did not bank with the old family banks. ∎ inf. (esp. of a competitor in a game or race) win or earn (a sum of money): he banked $100,000 for a hole-in-one. ∎  store (something, esp. blood, tissue, or sperm) for future use: the sperm is banked or held in storage for the following spring.PHRASES: break the bank (in gambling) win more money than is held by the bank. ∎  inf. cost more than one can afford: Christmas need not break the bank.PHRASAL VERBS: bank on base one's hopes or confidence on: they can bank on my winning 25 games next year.