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fluke
1[ flook ]
/ fluk /
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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.
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ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
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Origin of fluke
1First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps special use of fluke3
Words nearby fluke
Other definitions for fluke (2 of 3)
fluke2
[ 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 English dialect fluke “a guess”
Other definitions for fluke (3 of 3)
fluke3
[ 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
3First recorded before 900; Middle English flok, fluke, flewke, Old English flōc; cognate with Old Norse flōki; compare Old High German flah “flat” (German flach )
OTHER WORDS FROM fluke
flukeless, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use fluke in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for fluke (1 of 3)
fluke1
/ (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)
fluke2
/ (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)
fluke3
/ (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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Medical 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.
Scientific 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.