tanking

comes from mmorpgs, where you would have a healer in your party and a person with high defense. (i.e. meat sack-o-shield warriors). the warrior rush an opponent and the monk would do their best to keep the warrior alive with healing and stat bonuses. then, the other members could
a)fight and hit hard
b)run away like scared little girls

so, in essence, it is a big distraction to open opportunites for attack or to run away, like a sacrifice but to keepp it alive.
Chaos Deity had the best plan to win by tanking the enemy patrol and having his team run away.
by Chaos Deity October 06, 2005
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tanking

In reference to Magic: The Gathering gameplay. tanking is the act of "going into the tank" coming from 'think tank'. a player "in the tank" is considering their next line of play.
My magic online opponent has been tanking for several minutes now. I'm not sure what he could come out with to save him.
by cheezburgler October 25, 2010
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tanking

In dotA, using your hero to absorb enemy damage.

Effective when pushing, a tanker can absorb large amounts of damage while the rest of the team can focus on killing the enemy heroes.
Pudge: Look at the lvl 1 fv tanking those creeps. What a nub.
Faceless Void: stfu fattie, b0w dwn! 11! one!

later...

Faceless Void: 1 HoT and 2 Butterflies. I'm a tank.
Pudge: I'm so damn fat.
by jschmidty89 January 20, 2008
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tanking

Tanking is the act of going as fast as you can.

The meaning comes from riding mopeds, which are typicaly a slow form of transport. To get them to go faster, a rider can reduce their profile and improve their aerodynamics by laying flat on the fuel tank; "tanking it".
"You got here quickly, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I was tanking it all the way"
by anonymous_cunt November 11, 2011
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tanking

Used to describe someone who gets at fat girls.
Is Reese tanking that tank?
by Le Boots February 25, 2008
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tanking

When a sports team loses on purpose. Usually done at the end of the season to secure a better draft pick for next year.
Guy1: Man, this team sucks.
Guy2: Yeah, but their tanking anyway to get the 1st overall draft pick next year.
by Daze80 February 03, 2007
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tanking

Doing so poorly as to be in the toilet
Boy, my team is really tanking today!
by Janet Pinter January 21, 2008
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