1. A form of Japanese poetry; the 1st and 3rd lines have five syllables and the 2nd, 4th, and 5th have seven syllables
   "She composed a tanka about the cherry blossoms"
    
2. A Tibetan religious painting on fabric
   "The monastery walls were adorned with colourful tankas depicting Buddhist deities"

Derived forms: tankas

Type of: painting, picture, poem, verse form

Encyclopedia: Tanka