bank [2]
n
1 a long raised mass, esp. of earth; mound; ridge
3 the sloping side of any hollow in the ground, esp. when bordering a river
the left bank of a river is on a spectator's left looking downstream
a an elevated section, rising to near the surface, of the bed of a sea, lake, or river
b (in combination)
sandbank, mudbank
a the area around the mouth of the shaft of a mine
b the face of a body of ore
6 the lateral inclination of an aircraft about its longitudinal axis during a turn
7 (Also called)
banking, camber, cant, superelevation a bend on a road or on a railway, athletics, cycling, or other track having the outside built higher than the inside in order to reduce the effects of centrifugal force on vehicles, runners, etc., rounding it at speed
8 the cushion of a billiard table
vb
9 when tr, often foll by: up to form into a bank or mound
10 tr to border or enclose (a road, etc.) with a bank
11 tr, sometimes foll by: up to cover (a fire) with ashes, fresh fuel, etc., so that it will burn slowly
12 to cause (an aircraft) to tip laterally about its longitudinal axis or (of an aircraft) to tip in this way, esp. while turning
13 to travel round a bank, esp. at high speed
14 tr (Billiards) to drive (a ball) into the cushion (C12: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Icelandic bakki hill, Old Danish banke, Swedish backe)
superelevation
n
1 another name for →
bank 2 →
7
2 the difference between the heights of the sides of a road or railway track on a bend