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

Avon and Somerset Police said Tamzin Hall, 17, from Wellington, Somerset, was hit by a car travelling southbound between junction 24 for Bridgwater and junction 25 for Taunton, shortly after 23:00 GMT on Monday.

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

Jennifer Varvar, 51, an independent from Grand Junction, Colorado said she had not even considered a vote for Harris because of the financial stress she faced over the past four years.

From BBC

Silver Lake The meat in Silver Lake’s walkabilty sandwich is Sunset Junction, where Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards converge and there’s plenty for pedestrians to peruse, including Mohawk General Store and Taiwanese noodle shop Pine & Crane, a twice-weekly farmers market and one of the best Erewhons to people-watch in.

From Los Angeles Times

Six months later, he attacked another child at the junction between Welbeck Crescent and Bank Street in Troon.

From BBC

Related Words

• confluence
• crossing
• intersection
• juncture
• terminal