Tank Meaning
Tank Definition & Usage
A heavily armed and armored vehicle, typically on tracks, designed for frontline combat in warfare.
Examples
- "The tank rumbled across the battlefield, its gun aimed directly at the enemy positions."
- "During the invasion, tanks led the charge, breaking through the defensive lines."
- "The soldiers scrambled for cover as the tanks approached, their engines thundering in the distance."
- "After hours of fighting, the tank finally made it to the city outskirts, where it was deployed for urban combat."
- "Tank battles were the centerpiece of the military strategy in the desert conflict."
A large container for storing liquids or other substances, typically made of metal or strong material.
Examples
- "The gas tank was empty, and he needed to find a station quickly."
- "The farm's water tank was filled to the brim after the heavy rain."
- "We need to refuel the tank before heading out for the next leg of the journey."
- "The oil tank in the basement was leaking and required immediate repairs."
- "The fire truck's water tank allowed it to fight the blaze in remote areas without relying on hydrants."
To destroy or overpower in a manner similar to the force of a tank, often used in a metaphorical sense.
Examples
- "The company tanked after the scandal, losing millions in stock value."
- "He tanked his chances of winning the election with his controversial remarks."
- "The team's performance tanked in the second half, and they lost by twenty points."
- "If we don't improve our strategy, this project is going to tank."
- "The economy began to tank as inflation rates soared."
Cultural Context
The word 'tank' has military origins, coming from the early 20th century when armored vehicles were introduced as a new type of weapon during World War I. Over time, the word expanded to other areas, especially as the shape and function of large containers began to be likened to the armored military vehicle.
The Tank's Last Stand
Story
The Tank's Last Stand
In a distant future, the war had stretched on for decades, and humanity's reliance on giant military machines was at its peak. Sergeant Alex Carter stood at the command post, eyes glued to the radar. The last of the enemy tanks was approaching. His own unit, a group of battered but determined soldiers, had just enough firepower to hold them off. "We can do this," he muttered to himself, gripping the comms system. But as the tank commanders exchanged fire with the enemy, something unusual happened. The ground shook under their feet as the massive engines of the tanks roared through the battle-scarred landscape. Later, back in the base, Carter sat down to record a report. The battle had been won, but the toll had been high. "We tanked them," he said dryly into the microphone, his words filled with the weight of a hard-fought victory. Yet, as the weeks passed, the truth hit. His once-vibrant company was now in ruins, struggling to rebuild after the brutal losses. "The whole thing is tanking," he thought bitterly. On a personal level, Carter also had to deal with the collapse of his own world. His fuel tank had been emptied in the chaos, and now he was stranded in the middle of nowhere, forced to find a way to survive. But despite everything, he remained hopeful. "We tanked the enemy. We can rebuild." With those words, Carter set off to find the help he needed, knowing that survival and recovery would be his new battlefield.
