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Definition of lank

lank

/læŋk/
lank
Adverb:lankly
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lank Lexical Profile

lank Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Long, flat, and limp, lacking volume, curl, or vitality (especially of hair or grass).

Example

"After walking through the heavy mist, his dark hair hung in lank strands around his face."

2

Ungracefully tall and thin; gaunt or lean in build.

Example

"The traveler was a tall, lank figure whose worn coat hung loosely from his shoulders."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lank
Antonyms
View all antonyms for lank

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'lanky' typically describes a person who is awkwardly tall and thin, 'lank' is most frequently used in modern English to describe straight, limp, and lifeless hair or vegetation.

• Rhymes for lank

• Nearby Words

languishing
languorously
langur
lank
lankily
lankiness
lanky

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'hlanc', meaning slender, flaccid, or lean, from a Proto-Germanic root related to bending or turning.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lank. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lank
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