FLUKE DEFINITIONS - 12 definitions found
fluke n 1: a stroke of luck [syn: good luck, fluke, good fortune}] 2: a barb on a harpoon or arrow 3: flat bladelike projection on the arm of an anchor [syn: fluke, flue] 4: either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean 5: parasitic flatworms having external suckers for attaching to a host [syn: fluke, trematode, trematode worm] fluke fleuk Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) fluke I. noun Etymology: Middle English floke, fluke, from Old English flōc; akin to Old English flōh chip, Old High German flah smooth, Greek plax flat surface, and probably to Old English flōr floor — more at floor Date: before 12th century 1. flatfish 2. a flattened digenetic trematode worm; broadly trematode — compare liver fluke II. noun Etymology: perhaps from 1fluke Date: 1561 1. the part of an anchor that fastens in the ground — see anchor illustration 2. one of the lobes of a whale's tail III. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1857 1. an accidentally successful stroke at billiards or pool 2. a stroke of luck <the discovery was a fluke> Oxford English Reference Dictionary
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary fluke (flukes) If you say that something good is a fluke, you mean that it happened accidentally rather than by being planned or arranged. (INFORMAL) The discovery was something of a fluke... By sheer fluke, one of the shipowner's employees was in the city. N-COUNT: usu sing, also by N Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Fluke \Fluke\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Fluked; p. pr. & vb. n. Fluking.] To get or score by a fluke; as, to fluke a play in billiards. [Slang] Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Fluke \Fluke\ (fl[=u]k), n. [Cf. AS. fl[=o]c a kind of flatfish, Icel. fl[=o]ki a kind of halibut.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The European flounder. See Flounder. [Written also fleuk, flook, and flowk]. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo["o]l.) A parasitic trematode worm of several species, having a flat, lanceolate body and two suckers. Two species ({Fasciola hepatica} and Distoma lanceolatum) are found in the livers of sheep, and produce the disease called rot. [1913 Webster] Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Fluke \Fluke\ (fl[=u]k), n. [Cf. LG. flunk, flunka wing, the palm of an anchor; perh. akin to E. fly.] 1. The part of an anchor which fastens in the ground; a flook. See Anchor. 2. (Zo["o]l.) One of the lobes of a whale's tail, so called from the resemblance to the fluke of an anchor. 3. An instrument for cleaning out a hole drilled in stone for blasting. 4. An accidental and favorable stroke at billiards (called a scratch in the United States); hence, any accidental or unexpected advantage; as, he won by a fluke. [Cant, Eng.] --A. Trollope. Soule\'s Dictionary of English Synonyms fluke n. 1. Anchor-flake, grappling-flap. 2. Tail-flap (of a whale). 3. Flounder, turbot, flowk (Platessa flesus or maximus). 4. Lucky stroke, stroke of luck (primarily, at billiards). 5. Fluke-worm, liver-worm, gourd-worm (Distoma hepaticum). English Explanatory Dictionary (Synonyms) fluke ̈ɪflu:k n. lucky or successful stroke, stroke of (good) luck, lucky or big break, (happy) accident, quirk or twist of fate, windfall, fortuity, serendipity: If he won first prize, it was by a fluke. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 32 Moby Thesaurus words for "fluke": Chilopoda, Chordata, Echiuroidea, Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, Monoplacophora, Nemertinea, Phoronidea, accident, adventure, blessing, break, casualty, chance hit, contingency, contingent, fortuity, freak accident, hap, happening, happenstance, hazard, long odds, long shot, lucky break, lucky shot, lucky strike, run of luck, serendipity, streak of luck, stroke of luck, windfall |
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