fluke
A lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeatedA lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeated.
» I thought it was a fluke.
Я думала, что это была случайная удача.
Meaning
8 sensesA lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeated.
We've classified by a fluke; actually, the first goal was just a total fluke.
Glücksfall, glücklicher Zufall
уда́чаudáča, везе́ниеvezénije, счастли́вая случа́йностьsčastlívaja slučájnostʹ
A summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
A trematode; a parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, related to tapeworms (class Cestoda).
The man became infected with flukes after eating a meal of raw fish.
Any of the triangular blades at the end of an anchor, designed to catch the ground.
The fluke of the anchor was wedged between two outcroppings of rock and could not be dislodged.
Flunke
ла́па я́коряlápa jákorja
Either of the two lobes of a whale's or similar creature's tail.
The dolphin had an open wound on the left fluke of its tail where the propeller had injured it.
Fluke
хвостово́й плавни́кxvostovój plavník
either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean
A metal hook on the head of certain staff weapons (such as a bill), made in various forms depending on function, whether used for grappling or to penetrate armour when swung at an opponent.
The polearm had a wide, sharpened fluke attached to the central point.
зазу́бринаzazúbrina, крюкkrjuk
In general, a winglike formation on a central piece.
After casting the bronze statue, we filed down the flukes and spurs from the molding process.
Saugwurm
двуу́сткаdvuústka, соса́льщикsosálʹščik, тремато́даtrematóda
Waste cotton.
Examples
14 sentencesI thought it was a fluke.
ruЯ думала, что это была случайная удача.
Maybe it was just a fluke.
ruБыть может, это было просто удачное совпадение.
I thought that it was a fluke.
He got the job by a fluke.
ruОн получил эту работу благодаря счастливому стечению обстоятельств.
For all his success, Tom was regarded by all as a fluke.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 5
By meaning 4
Origin
Unknown, perhaps dialectal. It seems to have originally referred to a lucky shot at billiaUnknown, perhaps dialectal. It seems to have originally referred to a lucky shot at billiards. Possibly connected to sense 3, referring to whales' use of flukes to move rapidly. Possibly derived from German Glück (“luck, good fortune, happiness”).
From Old English flōc (“flatfish”), of Germanic origin, related to German flach (“flat”), Old Norse floke (“flatfish”), all ultimately from Proto-Germanic *flakaz.
Mid-16th century in the sense of “anchor blade”. Probably the same word as in etymology 2 above or else a related word for something flat (cf. Proto-Germanic *flakaz). A derivation from Middle Low German vlögel (“wing”), from Proto-Germanic *flugilaz, seems phonetically impossible. If anything, related vlōch, vlucht (“flight”, both also “wing”) or even *vlunke (modern Low German Flunk (“wing, pinion”)) are more plausible candidates. Note that the kind of whale's fin is called Fluke in contemporary German, but this is likely from English.
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Forms
plural: flukes / flukeSynonyms
5 synonyms- parasitic flatworms having external suckers for attaching to a host:trematodetrematode worm
- flat bladelike projection on the arm of an anchor:flue
- a stroke of luck:good luckgood fortune
Word family
12 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular