flanked

Flanked is the past participle of flank and is used as an adjective to indicate being on the side of something, or to describe being attacked from the side. The core idea is proximity to a side rather than the front or rear.

In military and tactical contexts, to flank means to attack or maneuver around the side of an enemy force. A force that is flanked is exposed along its sides and can be at greater risk of disruption, retreat, or encirclement. Flanking maneuvers aim to exploit weaknesses in a formation by threatening its flanks or rear.

In everyday language, the term also appears in descriptions of geography, architecture, and anatomy. For example, a road or river can flank a valley, meaning it runs along the side of it. The flank of a building or fortress may border a street or open ground, with the sides forming outer boundaries.

In anatomy, the flank refers to the side area of the torso between the ribs and the hip. Objects or features described as flanked lie to the sides of another reference point, rather than directly in front.

In genetics and molecular biology, flanking sequences are DNA regions adjacent to a gene or regulatory element. The phrase “flanked by” describes a target site that is bounded by these neighboring sequences, which is important in cloning, sequencing, and primer design. Overall, flanked conveys a sense of lateral position or sidewise relation across disciplines.