Quranic root
فلك
f · l · k
The root centers on roundness, circular form, and movement in a circuit.
From the basic notion of circularity, the lexicon extends to round or hemispherical objects and land formations, the revolving celestial sphere and its courses, circling water, and the ship as a vessel moving through water.
- Maqāyīs · row 3648
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 25
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
فَلَك
falak
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
The orbit or celestial course in which heavenly bodies move.
Used in the Quranic expression describing each celestial body as moving or swimming in its own falak.
- Mufradāt · row 1134
- Lane · entry 34953
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:33word 10
“an orbit”
Quran 36:40word 14
“an orbit”
فُلْك
fulk
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 23 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A ship or vessel; the same form may denote a single ship or ships collectively.
The noun is used in both singular and plural senses, with grammatical agreement and context determining the intended number. It also includes the ark in the Quranic account of Noah.
- Lane · entry 34952
- Mufradāt · row 1134
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:164وَٱلْفُلْكِand the ships
- 7:64ٱلْفُلْكِthe ship
- 10:22ٱلْفُلْكِthe ships
- 10:73ٱلْفُلْكِthe ship
- 11:37ٱلْفُلْكَthe ship
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 31 Classical meanings
فَلَّك
Of a breast, to become rounded.
A Form II verbal use describing the development of a rounded breast.
- Lane · entry 34949
فَلَّك
To place a round piece of hair or a twig around or through the tongue of a nursing young camel so that it cannot suckle.
A specialized pastoral construction involving the tongue of a young, unweaned camel.
- Lane · entry 34949
فَلَّك
To persist or persevere in an affair.
A Form II verbal use meaning to persist in or press on with a matter.
- Lane · entry 34949
فَلَّك
Of a bitch, to desire mating and discharge blood from the womb.
A specialized description of an animal's reproductive condition.
- Lane · entry 34949
فَلَك
The celestial sphere or revolving vault in which the stars are set and move.
A cosmological use, including the imagined material sphere or firmament surrounding the heavenly bodies.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلَك السَّمَاء
The pole or axis of heaven.
A specialized astronomical expression, likened to the pivot or axis of a millstone.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلَك
The circuit or principal central part of a thing.
A general nominal use for a circuit or main portion.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلَك
Circling waves of the sea, or water stirred into circular, back-and-forth motion.
Used of water in a state of commotion and circulation.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلَك
A hill or mound of sand surrounded by a broad expanse of land.
A geographical description of a prominent sandy elevation.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلَك
A circular, elevated tract or piece of land or sand, often rough or uneven in surface.
Used of rounded elevated formations standing above the surrounding ground.
- Lane · entry 34953
فَلِك
An epithet for one with rounded or large buttocks.
A bodily description based on resemblance to the round spindle whorl.
- Lane · entry 34954
فَلِك
Thick- or coarse-jointed, or loose-boned and flaccid in build.
A physical description of the body's joints, bones, or general constitution.
- Lane · entry 34954
فَلِك
Having pain in the patella.
A bodily condition expressed with reference to the kneecap.
- Lane · entry 34954
فَلْكَة
The round or nearly hemispherical whorl of a spindle.
The name is associated with the object's circular form.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
A round piece of coarse hair or similar material inserted into the tongue of a nursing young camel to prevent suckling.
A specialized pastoral implement; it is the object used in the corresponding verbal construction.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
A small, compact-topped rocky eminence or mound.
The summit is compared in shape to a spindle whorl.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
Anything circular.
A general nominal use based on circular form.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
The joint or cartilaginous disk between two vertebrae of a camel.
An anatomical use referring to the intervertebral structure.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة الرُّكْبَة
The kneecap or patella.
A specialized anatomical expression.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
The small structure at the head or root of the tongue.
An anatomical use for the small rounded structure at the tongue's base.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلْكَة
The side or rounded part of the horse's breast.
A specialized anatomical or descriptive use referring to the زَوْر region of a horse.
- Lane · entry 34956
فَلَكِيّ
Celestial or relating to the celestial sphere.
An attributive adjective derived from فَلَك in its astronomical sense.
- Lane · entry 34960
فَلَكِيّ
An astronomer or astrologer, one occupied with the science of the stars.
A substantivized use of the celestial adjective.
- Lane · entry 34960
فُلَيْكَة
A small ship or boat.
A diminutive form of فُلْك used as a lexicalized noun.
- Lane · entry 34961
فَالِك
A breast that is becoming rounded, or an epithet for such a breast.
The form describes development that has not reached the fuller state expressed by نَوَاهِد.
- Lane · entry 34962
فَيْلَكُون
A baker's rolling pin.
A specialized noun; its Arabicized status is reported in the lexical evidence.
- Lane · entry 34963
فَيْلَكُون
Papyrus.
A separate lexical use of the same form.
- Lane · entry 34963
فَيْلَكُون
Tar or pitch.
A material noun synonymous with قَار or زِفْت.
- Lane · entry 34963
فَيْلَكُون
A great bow.
Used in the expression قَوْسٌ فَيْلَكُونٌ.
- Lane · entry 34963
أَفْلَك
One who goes around a sand hill or mound.
The description is based on moving around a فَلَك understood as a sandy mound.
- Lane · entry 34964
الإِفْلِيكَان
The two fleshy portions bordering the uvula.
A specialized anatomical plural or dual expression.
- Lane · entry 34965
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
فُلْك may be interpreted as singular or plural, and its grammatical gender varies with the intended number and construction.
The Quranic forms فَلَك and فُلْك are distinct in vocalization and meaning: celestial orbit versus ship or ships.
Several Classical entries preserve rare anatomical, pastoral, technical, or specialized uses that are not Quranic senses.