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noun Uncommon

tanker

TANG-kuh

Tanker (noun) means a large ship, truck, or aircraft built to carry and transport a bulk liquid such as oil, fuel, or water. Example: “An oil tanker ran aground off the coast, spilling crude into the bay.”

noun
1
A large ship, truck, or aircraft built to carry and transport a bulk liquid such as oil, fuel, or water.
"An oil tanker ran aground off the coast, spilling crude into the bay."
"A fuel tanker refuelled the fighter jets mid-flight."

How to use tanker

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAny vehicle, ship, or aircraft designed to carry large amounts of liquid, especially fuel or oil.

Common pairings
oil tanker fuel tanker tanker truck

Word forms

tankered past tense, tankers plural, tankers singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

An oil _____ ran aground off the coast, spilling crude into the bay.

Etymology

Formed from tank plus the agent suffix -er, describing a vehicle or vessel built around a tank.

oiler tank ship oil tanker tank driver

Related words

Rhymes for tanker

See all rhymes for tanker →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tanker” mean?

The word “tanker” means a large ship, truck, or aircraft built to carry and transport a bulk liquid such as oil, fuel, or water. In plain terms, any vehicle, ship, or aircraft designed to carry large amounts of liquid, especially fuel or oil.

How do you pronounce “tanker”?

“Tanker” is pronounced TANG-kuh (/ˈtæŋkɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “tanker” in a sentence?

Here is “tanker” used in a sentence: “An oil tanker ran aground off the coast, spilling crude into the bay.”

What part of speech is “tanker”?

“Tanker” is a noun.

Is “tanker” a common word?

“Tanker” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial