fluke
1[ flook ]
/ fluk /
noun
the part of an anchor that catches in the ground, especially the flat triangular piece at the end of each arm.
a barb, or the barbed head, of a harpoon, spear, arrow, or the like.
either half of the triangular tail of a whale.
Nearby words
fluidity, fluidize, fluidized bed, fluidly, fluidrachm, fluke, flukey, fluky, flumadiddle, flume, flummery
Origin of fluke
1First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps special use of fluke3
Definition for fluke (2 of 3)
fluke
2[ flook ]
/ fluk /
noun
an accidental advantage; stroke of good luck: He got the job by a fluke.
an accident or chance happening.
an accidentally successful stroke, as in billiards.
Origin of fluke
2First recorded in 1855–60; of obscure origin; compare dial. fluke a guess
Definition for fluke (3 of 3)
fluke
3[ flook ]
/ fluk /
noun
any of several American flounders of the genus Paralichthys, especially P. dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean.
any of various other flatfishes.
a trematode.
Origin of fluke
3before 900; Middle English flok(e), fluke, Old English flōc; cognate with Old Norse flōki; compare Old High German flah flat (German flach)
Related forms
fluke·less, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for fluke
British Dictionary definitions for fluke (1 of 3)
fluke
1/ (fluːk) /
noun
Also called: flue a flat bladelike projection at the end of the arm of an anchor
either of the two lobes of the tail of a whale or related animal
Also called: flue the barb or barbed head of a harpoon, arrow, etc
Word Origin for fluke
C16: perhaps a special use of fluke ³ (in the sense: a flounder)
British Dictionary definitions for fluke (2 of 3)
fluke
2/ (fluːk) /
noun
an accidental stroke of luck
any chance happening
verb
(tr) to gain, make, or hit by a fluke
Word Origin for fluke
C19: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for fluke (3 of 3)
fluke
3/ (fluːk) /
noun
any parasitic flatworm, such as the blood fluke and liver fluke, of the classes Monogenea and Digenea (formerly united in a single class Trematoda)
another name for flounder 2 (def. 1)
Word Origin for fluke
Old English flōc; related to Old Norse flōki flounder, Old Saxon flaka sole, Old High German flah smooth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for fluke
fluke
[ flōōk ]
n.
trematode
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for fluke
fluke
[ flōōk ]
Either of the two flattened fins of a whale's tail.
See trematode.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.