Definition

1. Noun:
   • A parasitic flatworm: A type of parasitic worm, specifically a trematode, that typically has suckers for attaching to a host.
   • A part of an anchor: The broad, flat, triangular piece at the end of each arm of an anchor, which digs into the ground.
   • A part of a whale's tail: Either of the two lobes that make up the tail fin of a whale, dolphin, or other cetacean.
   • A barbed head: A barb or point on a weapon like a harpoon, arrow, or lance.
   • A stroke of luck: An unexpected piece of good luck or a surprising success, especially one that happens by chance.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Parasite):
  • The sheep were infected with liver fluke.
• Noun (Anchor part):
  • The anchor's fluke caught firmly on the rocky seabed.
• Noun (Whale tail):
  • We saw the humpback whale's massive fluke rise out of the water before it dove.
• Noun (Weapon part):
  • The ancient harpoon was found with its bone fluke still intact.
• Noun (Stroke of luck):
  • Passing the exam was a complete fluke; I hadn't studied at all.
  • That goal was a fluke—the ball bounced off his knee and into the net.

Advanced Usage

• "A pure/flat-out/sheer fluke": Used to emphasize that something happened entirely by chance.
  • Meeting her in Tokyo after ten years was a pure fluke.
• "By a fluke": By a fortunate accident.
  • He got the job by a fluke; the other candidate withdrew at the last minute.

Variants and Related Words

• Fluky (also flukey) (adj): Resulting from or characterized by luck, especially good luck; chancy.
  • Our victory was a fluky occurrence.
• Fluke worm (n): Another term for a parasitic fluke.

Synonyms

• Parasite, trematode (for the worm).
• Blade, palm (for the anchor part).
• Lobe (for the whale tail part).
• Barb, point (for the weapon part).
• Accident, chance, stroke of luck, windfall, serendipity (for the lucky event).

Related Phrases

• No related phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• "A lucky fluke": A fortunate accident.
  • Finding that rare book in a second-hand shop was a lucky fluke.

Noun

1. parasitic flatworms having external suckers for attaching to a host
2. either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean
3. flat bladelike projection on the arm of an anchor
4. a barb on a harpoon or arrow
5. a stroke of luck