spank
1[ spangk ]
/ spæŋk /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object)
to strike (a person, usually a child) with the open hand, a slipper, etc., especially on the buttocks, as in punishment.
noun
a blow given in spanking; a smart or resounding slap.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of spank
1First recorded in 1720–30; imitative
Other definitions for spank (2 of 2)
spank2
[ spangk ]
/ spæŋk /
verb (used without object)
to move rapidly, smartly, or briskly.
Origin of spank
2First recorded in 1800–10; back formation from spanking
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use spank in a sentence
Read the latest on OZY, and stay tuned for our brand-spanking-new Sex With Eugene email.
Year after year, rain water floods spanking new roads and underpasses, causing immense traffic snarls, and leaving wealthy residents locked inside their condominiums.
India’s glittering Gurugram remains a model of how not to build a new city|Manavi Kapur|October 10, 2020|Quartz
British Dictionary definitions for spank (1 of 2)
spank1
/ (spæŋk) /
verb
(tr) to slap or smack with the open hand, esp on the buttocks
noun
a slap or series of slaps with the flat of the hand
Word Origin for spank
C18: probably of imitative origin
British Dictionary definitions for spank (2 of 2)
spank2
/ (spæŋk) /
verb
(intr) to go at a quick and lively pace
Word Origin for spank
C19: back formation from spanking ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012