embank

English

Alternative forms

• imbank (archaic)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁én

Proto-Italic *en

Proto-Italic *en-

Latin in-

Old French en-bor.

Middle English en-

English en-

English bank

English embank

From en- + bank.

Pronunciation

• (without æ-raising) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈbæŋk/, [ɪmˈbæŋk]

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (æ-raising)
  • (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈbeɪ̯ŋk/, [ɪmˈbeɪ̯ŋk]; /ɪmˈbɛ̃ŋk/, [ɪmˈbɛ̃ŋk]
• Rhymes: -æŋk
• Hyphenation: em‧bank

Verb

embank (third-person singular simple present embanks, present participle embanking, simple past and past participle embanked)

1. to put up a bank so as to confine or to defend
2. to protect by a bank of earth or stone

Derived terms

• embanker
• embankment