1. A large (usually metallic) vessel for holding gases or liquids
   "The refinery had several massive storage tanks for crude oil";
   - storage tank
    
2. (military) an enclosed armoured military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads
   "The tanks rolled through the city during the military parade";
   - army tank, armored combat vehicle [US], armoured combat vehicle [Brit, Cdn]
    
3. A freight car that transports liquids or gases in bulk
   "A long line of tank cars filled with petroleum products stretched down the railway";
   - tank car
    
4. As much as a tank will hold
   "They drove for hours on a tank of gas";
   - tankful
    
5. [N. Amer, informal] A cell for violent prisoners
   "The unruly inmate was placed in the tank to calm down";
   - cooler [informal]

1. Store in a tank by causing (something) to flow into it
   "They tanked the petrol for later use"
    
2. Treat in a tank
   "tank animal refuse"
    
3. [N. Amer, informal] Fail badly
   "How many contracting businesses will tank this year?";
   - crash and burn [informal], bomb [informal]
    
4. [informal] Consume excessive amounts of alcohol
   "They tanked at the party last night"

Derived forms: tanked, tanking, tanks

Type of: armored vehicle [US], armoured vehicle [Brit, Cdn], booze [informal], cell, containerful, drink, freight car, fuddle, hit the bottle [informal], jail cell, military vehicle, peter [Austral, NZ, informal], prison cell, process, store, tracked vehicle, treat, vessel

Encyclopedia: Tank, Cruiser, Ram