fluke

(flūk)

1. Any of various flatfishes, especially a flounder of the genus Paralichthys.
2. See trematode.

[Middle English, from Old English flōc.]

(flūk)

1. Nautical. The triangular blade at the end of an arm of an anchor, designed to catch in the ground.
2. A barb or barbed head, as on an arrow or a harpoon.
3. Either of the two horizontally flattened divisions of the tail of a whale.

[Possibly from FLUKE¹.]

(flūk)

1. A stroke of good luck.
2. A chance occurrence; an accident.
3. Games. An accidentally good or successful stroke in billiards or pool.

[Origin unknown.]

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Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) (credit: Grant Heilman Photography)

Any member of almost 6,000 species of parasitic flatworms. Flukes are found worldwide and range in size from about 0.2 to 4 in. (5 – 100 mm) long. They most commonly parasitize fish, frogs, and turtles, but also humans, domestic animals, and invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans. They include external parasites (ectoparasites), internal parasites (endoparasites), and semi-external parasites (those that attach to the lining of the mouth, to gills, or to the cloaca). Most flukes are flattened and leaflike or ribbonlike and have muscular suckers on the bottom surface, as well as hooks and spines, for attachment to the host. Fluke infestations may cause illness (e.g., schistosomiasis) or death in humans.

For more information on fluke, visit Britannica.com.

Small flatfish, Platichthys spp., also called flounder.

noun

An unexpected random event: accident, chance, fortuity, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard. See certain/uncertain, surprise/expect.

Definition: chance occurrence
Antonyms: certainty, design, plan

n. a broad triangular plate on the arm of an anchor.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

• Fish
• Worms
• Building and Machine Parts - fluke: pointed blade on anchor, barb
• Parts of Ships, Sails, and Equipment - fluke: flat, triangular end of anchor that bites bottom
• Fate - fluke: unexpected stroke of luck

Look up Fluke or fluke in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Fluke may refer to:

• Unlikely, usually positive chance occurrence, esp. a surprising piece of luck.
• Fluke, a type of flatfish alternatively called a Summer flounder
• Fluke, an alternative name for a whale tail
• Fluke, a class of parasitic flatworms otherwise known as Trematoda
• Fluke (band), electronic dance music group
• Fluke (film), 1995 film
• Fluke (novel), 1977 novel
• Flukes, protective flared sections on a two-handed sword just above the ricasso
• Snow fluke, an anchoring device for climbing and camping

People

• Joanne Fluke (born c. 1940), female author

See also

• Liver fluke, a parasite
• Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings, 2003 novel
• Fluke Corporation, a manufacturer of electrical and electronic test equipment

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - lykketræf, held
v. tr. - få ved et lykketræf

2.
n. - ikte

3.
n. - ankerflig

Nederlands (Dutch)
mazzel, platvis, platworm, ankerhaak, (walvis-)staartvin, harpoenhaak, soort aardappel, mazzel hebben

Français (French)
1.
n. - coup de chance
v. tr. - réussir par un coup de chance

2.
n. - (Zool) filet

3.
n. - (Naut) patte (d'une ancre), aile (d'ancre), nageoire (d'une baleine)

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Glücksfall
v. - (durch Zufall) treffen

2.
n. - Seezunge

3.
n. - Ankerhand

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (καθομ.) ρέντα, καλοτυχία, φάρδος, τύχη, τυχαία επιτυχία

Italiano (Italian)
passera nera, palma, punta, coda della balena, caso fortunato, colpo fortunato

Português (Portuguese)
n. - sorte (f) inesperada (coloq.)

Русский (Russian)
неожиданный удар, счастливая случайность, рог якоря, камбала

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - suerte, chiripa, churra
v. tr. - ganar por chiripa

2.
n. - platija

3.
n. - uña, lengüeta, oreja del ancla

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - levermask (zool.), flundra, njurformig potatis, ankarfly (sjö.), hulling på harpun o dyl., sidoflik på valstjärt, lyckträff (vard.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 锚爪

2. 侥幸

3. 比目鱼

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 比目魚

2.
n. - 錨爪

3.
n. - 僥倖

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 뜻 밖의 행운
v. tr. - ~을 행운으로 이기다

2.
n. - 넙치 가자미 물고기

3.
n. - 닻의 갈고리

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 錨爪, かかり, 尾びれ, まぐれ当たり, 思いがけない幸運, 思わぬ幸運, 吸虫

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) السمك المفلطح‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮כף העוגן, קרס הצלצל‬
n. - ‮הצלחה מקרית, מזל‬
n. - ‮טפיל, אחד משני פלגי זנב הלווייתן, תולעת‬

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