Definition

1. Noun:

   • A fortification of earth; mostly or entirely below ground: A military structure, often made of reinforced concrete or earth, designed to protect people or equipment from enemy fire.
   • A large container for storing fuel: A storage tank, especially on a ship or at a facility, for holding fuel such as coal or oil.
   • A hazard on a golf course: A hollow area, often filled with sand, that is a hazard on a golf course.

2. Verb:

   • To transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse: To unload and store cargo, especially fuel.
   • To fill (a ship's bunker) with coal or oil: To supply a ship with fuel.
   • To hit a golf ball into a bunker: In golf, to cause a ball to land in a sand hazard.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The soldiers took cover in the concrete bunker during the attack.
  • The ship could not depart because its bunker was nearly empty.
  • His approach shot landed in the greenside bunker, making par difficult.

• Verb:

  • The crew worked through the night to bunker the coal.
  • The tanker will bunker the cruise ship before its transatlantic voyage.
  • He unfortunately bunkered his tee shot on the 18th hole.

Advanced Usage

• "To be bunkered": In golf, to have one's ball come to rest in a bunker. This is often used in the passive voice.
  • After a poor shot, she found herself bunkered.
• "Bunker mentality": A state of mind marked by defensiveness and a sense of being under siege, often used in politics or business.
  • The scandal caused the company's executives to adopt a bunker mentality.

Variants and Related Words

• Bunkering (n): The process of supplying a ship with fuel.
  • Bunkering operations were completed at the port.
• Bunker fuel (n): A type of heavy fuel oil used in ships.
  • The new regulations limit sulfur emissions from bunker fuel.

Synonyms

• Noun (fortification): Dugout, blockhouse, pillbox.
• Noun (storage container): Tank, bin, hopper.
• Noun (golf hazard): Sand trap, hazard.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "In the bunker": In a very difficult or defensive situation, often used in business or politics.
  • After the failed product launch, the marketing team was in the bunker.

Noun

1. a fortification of earth; mostly or entirely below ground
2. a large container for storing fuel
   • the ship's bunkers were full of coal
3. a hazard on a golf course

Verb

1. transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse
2. fill (a ship's bunker) with coal or oil
3. hit a golf ball into a bunker