bank

banknoun

A bank is a place where money or another supply is kept, a raised edge of ground along a river, or a line of similar machines.

1. for moneya business that keeps people's money safe and lends money, or the building where it does this

   countable [C] often before another noun [before noun] finance

   • I need to go to the bank before it closes.
   • Kim borrowed money from the bank to start her business.
   • Most people now pay their bills through their bank's app.
   • Is your money safe in the bank?

   Collocations

   noun + noun bank account, bank loan, bank card, bank balance, bank statement, bank transfer

   verb + noun go to the bank, borrow from the bank, put money in the bank, rob a bank, open an account with a bank

   adjective + noun a local bank, a big bank, the central bank, an online bank

   preposition + noun in the bank, at the bank

   1. athe supply of money in a card game or a board game, kept and paid out by one player or by the person running the game

      games

      • In this game, one player acts as the bank and hands out the money.
      • Whoever is the bank has to keep the money in order.

2. of a riverthe ground along the edge of a river, a stream, or a lake, usually higher than the water

   countable [C]

   • We had a picnic on the bank of the river.
   • Trees grew thickly along both banks of the stream.
   • After a week of rain, the river burst its banks.
   • Sam scrambled up the muddy bank to the road.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun the far bank, the opposite bank, a steep bank, a muddy bank, a grassy bank

   preposition + noun on the bank, along the bank, up the bank

   verb + noun burst its banks, climb the bank

   Synonyms shore (the shore is the edge of the sea or of a big lake)

   Compare coast; beach

   1. aa long raised mass of earth, sand, snow, or cloud

      • The snow plow left a bank of snow at the end of the driveway.
      • A bank of dark cloud was building in the west.
      • The road runs along a high bank of earth.

      Collocations

      noun + preposition a bank of snow, a bank of earth, a bank of cloud, a bank of fog

   For translators (sense 2)

   Meaning across languages Other languages often use different words for the edge of a river and the edge of the sea; English bank is for rivers, streams, and lakes, or for a raised slope of ground, and the sea has a shore or a coast.

3. a storea supply of something, such as blood or information, kept in one place for use when it is needed

   countable [C]

   • Anyone healthy can give blood at the blood bank on the second floor.
   • The food bank collects canned and packaged food for families in need.
   • Teachers choose test questions from a bank of several thousand.
   • Old photographs are being added to the town's data bank.

   Collocations

   noun + noun blood bank, food bank, data bank, seed bank

   noun + preposition a bank of questions, a bank of information

   Synonyms supply; reserve

   For translators (sense 3)

   Grammar trap The thing stored comes before the word, as in a compound: blood bank, food bank, not a bank of blood in everyday use.

4. a set of machinesa line or set of similar machines, lights, or switches placed together

   countable [C]

   • A bank of screens showed every part of the building.
   • The control room has a bank of switches along one wall.
   • We waited by the bank of elevators for one to arrive.

   Collocations

   noun + preposition a bank of screens, a bank of lights, a bank of elevators, a bank of switches, a bank of computers

   Synonyms row; array

See also account; loan