Definition

Noun: 1. A large, heavily armored military vehicle: An army tank is a tracked, armored fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat. It is characterized by heavy armor protection, a powerful rotating turret-mounted cannon, and the ability to traverse difficult terrain.

Usage Notes

• The term "army tank" specifically refers to the main battle vehicle used by ground forces. It is often shortened simply to "tank."
• It is used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
• It describes a vehicle operated by a crew, typically for direct engagement with enemy forces.

Examples

• The advancing army tank crushed the barbed wire and small trees in its path.
• Modern army tanks are equipped with advanced targeting systems and composite armor.
• The soldier commanded the army tank from inside the turret.

Advanced Usage

• "Tank warfare": Military strategy and tactics involving the deployment and use of tanks.
  • The development of blitzkrieg revolutionized tank warfare.
• "To tank" (slang, verb): To perform very poorly or fail decisively. This is a metaphorical extension from the idea of a tank being destroyed.
  • The company's stock price tanked after the scandal.

Variants and Related Words

• Tank (n): The common shortened form of "army tank."
• Armored vehicle (n): A broader category that includes tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles.
• Main battle tank (MBT) (n): The primary type of tank in modern armies, designed to balance firepower, armor, and mobility.

Synonyms

• Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
• Panzer (specifically from German, but often used in historical contexts)

Related Phrases

• Tank commander: The officer in charge of a tank and its crew.
• Tank treads/Caterpillar tracks: The continuous metal belts that allow a tank to move over rough ground.
• Tank turret: The rotating structure on top of the tank hull that houses the main gun.

Noun

1. an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads