tank
B1Neutral to formal depending on context (everyday for container, formal/military for vehicle).
Definition
Meaning
A large container for holding liquid or gas.
A heavily armored combat vehicle with tracks and a large gun; to fail or decline rapidly (verb); a secure storage area or reservoir.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has undergone significant semantic broadening from its original meaning of 'artificial pond' (17th century) to military vehicle (20th century). The verb sense 'to fail' is informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all senses. The verb 'to tank' (to fail) is slightly more established in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'tank' as a vehicle connotes military power. As a container, it is neutral.
Frequency
The 'container' sense is most frequent in both. The 'vehicle' sense is common in news/media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tank (sth) up (with petrol)tank (sth) (informal: to fail)fill the tankdrive a tankVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tank up (to refuel)”
- “think tank (a group of experts)”
- “tank top (a sleeveless shirt)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company's stock price tanked after the poor earnings report." (verb, informal)
Academic
"The study examined the role of tanks in the early phases of mechanized warfare."
Everyday
"I need to stop and fill up the car's petrol tank."
Technical
"The pressure in the primary cooling tank must remain within specified limits."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new policy caused public support to tank.
- We should tank up the car before we leave.
American English
- The team totally tanked in the second half.
- I need to tank up my SUV at the next gas station.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). 'Tank' is not used as a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A (not standard). 'Tank' is not used as a standard adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There are many fish in the tank.
- The car needs more petrol in the tank.
- The army used tanks during the exercise.
- My phone battery is almost empty; it's running on fumes like a car with no fuel in the tank.
- After the scandal, the minister's reputation tanked.
- The think tank published a report on economic policy.
- Critics argue that the new regulations could tank the nascent industry.
- The strategic deployment of tanks was pivotal in breaching the defensive line.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a large metal TANK holding water, like a fish TANK, or a military TANK that is strong like a metal box.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR LIQUID/IDEAS (think tank), HEAVY/STRONG ENTITY (tank of a player in sports), RAPID DOWNWARD MOVEMENT (stock tanked).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'танк' (military vehicle) when the context is about a container (бак, резервуар).
- The verb 'to tank' (to fail) has no direct single-word equivalent; use phrases like 'провалиться', 'резко упасть'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tank' to mean any large vehicle (e.g., a truck).
- Confusing 'tank top' (clothing) with a type of vehicle.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'tank' NOT typically refer to a container?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily a noun, but it is also commonly used as a verb meaning 'to fail or decline rapidly' (informal) and 'to fill a fuel tank' (tank up).
A 'tank' is a specific type of large, often fixed, container designed to hold liquids or gases in bulk (e.g., water tank, fuel tank). A 'container' is a more general term for anything that holds something else.
The name was originally a code word used during World War I to maintain secrecy during the development of the first armored fighting vehicles. The workers were told they were building 'water tanks' or 'mobile water tanks' for desert warfare, and the name stuck.
Typically, the noun senses are neutral. The verb sense ('to tank') is almost always negative. A possible positive connotation is in sports, where a physically strong, resilient player might be called a 'tank' metaphorically.