noun
flak
flak
Flak (noun) means Anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it. Example: “The bomber crew flew straight through heavy flak.”
noun
1
Anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it.
"The bomber crew flew straight through heavy flak."
2
Harsh criticism or complaints.
"The company took a lot of flak for the price hike."
"She got flak from her boss for missing the deadline."
How to use flak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally anti-aircraft fire; now mostly used for a barrage of criticism.
Common pairings
take flak
catch flak
heavy flak
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Word forms
- Plural
- flaks
Fill the gap
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The bomber crew flew straight through heavy _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from German FlaK, a short form of Fliegerabwehrkanone, "aircraft-defense cannon."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “flak” mean?
The word “flak” means anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it. In plain terms, originally anti-aircraft fire; now mostly used for a barrage of criticism.
How do you pronounce “flak”?
“Flak” is pronounced flak (/flæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “flak” in a sentence?
Here is “flak” used in a sentence: “The bomber crew flew straight through heavy flak.”
What part of speech is “flak”?
“Flak” is a noun.
Where does the word “flak” come from?
The word “flak” comes from German. Borrowed from German FlaK, a short form of Fliegerabwehrkanone, "aircraft-defense cannon.".
How many meanings does “flak” have?
“Flak” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it.
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