bank up

To pile earth or other material against something.

• Bank up soil around the plants.
• He banked up snow against the shed.
• We banked the earth up around each stem.

How to use it: bank something up against something (They banked soil up against the wall.)

Similar words: pile up, heap up

Common phrases: bank up soil, bank up earth

To gather into a large pile or thick mass.

• Snow banked up outside.
• Dark clouds were banking up over the hills.
• Leaves bank up against the fence every autumn.

Similar words: pile up, accumulate

Common phrases: bank up outside, bank up overhead

To build a pile of earth or other material to keep out water or another danger.

• They banked up earth to stop the water.
• Workers banked up the riverbanks before the storm.
• We must bank up sand to protect the houses.

How to use it: bank something up to do something (They banked earth up to stop the floodwater.)

Similar words: embank

Common phrases: bank up earth, bank up riverbanks