embank

American  

[em-bangk] / ɛmˈbæŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose or protect with an embankment.

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embank British  

/ ɪmˈbæŋk /

verb

1. (tr) to protect, enclose, or confine (a waterway, road, etc) with an embankment

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Other Word Forms

• unembanked adjective

Etymology

Origin of embank

First recorded in 1640–50; em- ¹ + bank ¹

Example Sentences

Sir,—What are the authorities about that they do not at once embank the river on both sides up to Richmond, and span it with five bridges between this and Gravesend?

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 93, October 29, 1887 by Various

If you were to embank Lincolnshire more stoutly against the sea? or strip the peat of Solway, or plant Plinlimmon moors with larch—then, in due season, some amateur reaping and threshing?

From The Crown of Wild Olive also Munera Pulveris; Pre-Raphaelitism; Aratra Pentelici; The Ethics of the Dust; Fiction, Fair and Foul; The Elements of Drawing by Ruskin, John

It seemed so very odd that anybody should embank a roadway.

From She by Haggard, Henry Rider

To raise a mound or dike about; to inclose, defend, or fortify with a bank; to embank.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

"Is he empowered to pull down churches that he may use the stones to embank his drains?"

From The MS. in a Red Box by Hamilton, John Arthur