bank1

noun

• 1the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake:willows lined the bank

• 2a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance:a bank of clouds a bank of snow
• an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank.
• a transverse slope given to a road, railroad, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed around a curve.
• the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight:flying with small amounts of bank

• 3a set or series of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows:the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console
• a tier of oars:the early ships had only twenty-five oars in each bank

• 4the cushion of a pool table: [as modifier]:a bank shot

verb

• 1heap (a substance) into a mass or mound:the rain banked the soil up behind the gate snow was banked in humps at the roadside
• [no object] rise or form into a mass or mound:purple clouds banked up over the hills
• heap (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly:she could have made a fire and banked it with dirt
• edge or surround with a ridge or row of something:steps banked with pots of chrysanthemums

• 2(of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn: [no object]:the plane banked as if to return to the airport [with object]:I banked the aircraft steeply and turned
• [no object] build (a road, railroad, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering.

• 3North American (in pool and other games) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a backboard or cushion.