1.A broad triangular plate on the arm of an anchor.
‘On Vanderlin, rubbish left by Asiatics: a wooden anchor with one fluke, three boat rudders of violet wood, remains of blue cotton trousers.’
‘Having said that, on the seabed to the port side of the bows lies a large iron pendant, perhaps the remains of an anchor with broken flukes.’
2.A flatfish, especially a flounder.
‘With flounder, sole, fluke, turbot, halibut, bass, trout, John Dory or orange roughy, we must tread lightly, especially with regard to bitterness.’
‘Seafood specialties like halibut, fluke, and grouper and the unique world of micro greens have done much to influence his opinion of American food culture.’
3.A parasitic flatworm which typically has suckers and hooks for attachment to the host. Some species are of veterinary or medical importance.
‘Once infected with flukes, for instance, some species of snails have only a month or so before the parasites castrate them and turn them into food-gathering slaves.’
‘In Asia the species is known to host parasitic lung flukes, which can infect humans if the crabs are eaten undercooked.’
4.An unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
‘their victory was a bit of a fluke’
‘Contrary to what Bettman might think, a fluke occurrence can not be used as precedent: after all, a fluke occurrence is by definition rare.’
5.Either of the lobes of a whale’s tail.
‘Position of control surfaces (ie., flippers, fin, flukes, peduncle) provides a generally stable design with respect to an arrow model.’
‘Calambokidis’ team has photographed and recognized around 1,500 blue whales by tail fluke and back markings.’
verb
1.Achieve (something) by luck rather than skill.
‘But Coco sets high standards and so has gone head to paw with the Swinburne Uni computer, which has fluked a score of 97 after Round 18.’
‘Spurs fans will be getting excited now they’ve fluked a win and there’s not a pensioner in sight in the forwards.’