to stockpile / to bunker / to park the bus
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to stockpile
Colloquial for building up a large supply of something, especially food or other goods, often out of concern about a shortage.
Vor dem langen Wochenende haben viele Leute im Supermarkt Nudeln und Toilettenpapier gebunkert.
Before the long weekend, many people stockpiled pasta and toilet paper at the supermarket.
to bunker
In shipping and aviation, to take on fuel (originally coal, today usually oil or kerosene) or other operating supplies.
Das Containerschiff muss im Hafen von Rotterdam erst noch bunkern, bevor es weiterfährt.
The container ship still has to bunker in the port of Rotterdam before it continues on.
to park the bus
In sports, especially football/soccer, to use an extremely defensive style of play in which the entire team gathers in front of its own goal.
Nach dem Führungstreffer hat die Mannschaft nur noch gebunkert und das Ergebnis verteidigt.
After taking the lead, the team only parked the bus and defended the result.
The verb 'bunkern' is derived from the noun 'der Bunker' (bunker). A bunker is a safe, often underground shelter. This basic idea of storing things away or entrenching oneself appears in all meanings.
Aus Angst vor dem Sturm haben die Anwohner Wasser und Lebensmittel gebunkert.
Out of fear of the storm, the residents stockpiled water and food.
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'bunkern' from context. If people are talking about shopping or crises, it is about stockpiling supplies. At a port or airport, it is about fuel. In a sports report, it means playing extremely defensively.
Wir sollten vor den Feiertagen noch Getränke bunkern.
We should stockpile some drinks before the holidays.
In the meaning 'Vorräte anlegen' (to stockpile supplies), 'bunkern' is a colloquial word. It is used in everyday speech, but rather rarely in formal texts.
Mein Nachbar hat seinen ganzen Keller mit Konservendosen gebunkert.
My neighbor stockpiled his entire basement with canned food.
When it is about fueling ships or airplanes, 'bunkern' is a technical term. In this context, it is used normally and is not colloquial.
Der Tanker muss Öl bunkern, bevor er den Hafen verlässt.
The tanker has to bunker oil before it leaves the port.
In a sports context, especially in football/soccer, 'bunkern' is a common jargon term. It describes a very defensive tactic in which a team heavily defends its own goal.
Die Heimmannschaft war klar unterlegen und hat von Anfang an gebunkert.
The home team was clearly outmatched and parked the bus from the start.
to refuel / fill up
Tanken and bunkern can both refer to taking on fuel. Tanken is the general term for filling a tank with fuel, while bunkern is used especially in shipping and aviation as a technical term. In everyday situations, tanken is usually the better choice; in the relevant transport context, bunkern can also be used.
Das Flugzeug bunkerte vor dem Start noch einmal Kerosin.
The plane took on kerosene once more before takeoff.
Das Flugzeug tankte vor dem Start noch einmal Kerosin.
The plane refueled with kerosene once more before takeoff.
