junction

[ juhngk-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act of joining; combining.
2. the state of being joined; union.
3. a place or point where two or more things are joined, as a seam or joint.

   Synonyms: welt, coupling, linkage, union

4. a place or point where two or more things meet or converge.
5. a place or station where railroad lines meet, cross, or diverge.
6. an intersection of streets, highways, or roads.
7. something that joins other things together:

   He used the device as a junction between the branch circuit and the main power lines.

   Synonyms: connection

junction

/ ˈdʒʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. a place where several routes, lines, or roads meet, link, or cross each other

   a railway junction

2. a point on a motorway where traffic may leave or join it
3. electronics
   1. a contact between two different metals or other materials

      a thermocouple junction

   2. a transition region between regions of differing electrical properties in a semiconductor

      a p-n junction

4. a connection between two or more conductors or sections of transmission lines
5. the act of joining or the state of being joined

Derived Forms

• ˈjunctional, adjective

Other Words From

• junction·al adjective
• inter·junction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of junction¹

First recorded in 1705–15; from Latin junctiōn- (stem of junctiō ), equivalent to junct(us), past participle of jungere “to join” ( jung- join + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of junction¹

C18: from Latin junctiō a joining, from junctus joined, from jungere to join

Synonym Study

Junction, juncture refer to a place, line, or point at which two or more things join. A junction is also a place where things come together: the junction of two rivers. A juncture is a line or point at which two bodies are joined, or a point of exigency or crisis in time: the juncture of the head and neck; a critical juncture in a struggle.

Example Sentences

The protesters had set up tents and barriers at a major junction near Tbilisi State University and security and riot police detained a number of people as they moved in to clear the area.

From BBC

When authorities did not free the prisoners, he posted an image taken from high up overlooking a busy junction in the capital Tehran on X.

From BBC

Avon and Somerset Police said the incident, involving a pedestrian and a car, had happened between junctions 24 for Bridgwater and 25 for Taunton at around 23:00 GMT on Monday.

From BBC

Four from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Society’s Civil Defence branch, which provides emergency services, were killed when Israeli forces targeted a gathering point at Derdghaya junction, it said.

From BBC

One witness, Martin Russell, told the inquest he was waiting to pull out from a junction and saw the Audi A1 passing "at high speed".

From BBC

Related Words

• confluence
• crossing
• intersection
• juncture
• terminal