funk

¹

[ fuhngk ]

noun

1. cowering fear; state of great fright or terror.
2. a dejected mood:

   He's been in a funk ever since she walked out on him.

verb (used with object)

1. British. to shrink from; try to shirk:

   We can only say that the government has funked its responsibility.

verb (used without object)

1. British. to shrink or quail in fear:

   He funked at nothing, and could lick every boy in the neighborhood.

funk

²

[ fuhngk ]

noun

1. Jazz. music having a funky quality:

   Let's set aside our music exercises for now and get down to some real funk.

2. a strong, earthy smell; stench:

   That is some serious funk coming from the compost pile.

3. the state or quality of being funky.

Funk

³

[ foongk, fuhngk ]

noun

1. Cas·i·mir [kaz, -, uh, -meer], 1884–1967, U.S. biochemist, born in Poland: discovered thiamine, the first vitamin isolated.

funk

¹

/ fʌŋk /

noun

1. slang.
   a strong foul odour

funk

²

/ fʌŋk /

noun

1. informal.
   a type of polyrhythmic Black dance music with heavy syncopation

Funk

³

/ fʌŋk /

noun

1. FunkCasimir18841967MUSPolishSCIENCE: chemist Casimir (ˈkæzɪˌmɪə). 1884–1967, US biochemist, born in Poland: studied and named vitamins

funk

⁴

/ fʌŋk /

noun

1. Also calledblue funk a state of nervousness, fear, or depression (esp in the phrase in a funk )
2. a coward

verb

1. to flinch from (responsibility) through fear
2. tr; usually passive to make afraid

Funk

/ fŭngk,fo̅o̅ngk /

1. Polish-born American biochemist who is credited with the discovery of vitamins. In 1912 he postulated the existence of four organic bases he called vitamines which were necessary for normal health and the prevention of deficiency diseases. He also contributed to the knowledge of the hormones of the pituitary gland and the sex glands.

Derived Forms

• ˈfunker, noun

Other Words From

• funker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of funk¹

First recorded in 1735–45; originally Oxford University slang; perhaps from early Dutch dialect (in de) fonck “in difficulties;” further origin unknown

Origin of funk²

First recorded in 1615–25; perhaps from North French dialect funquier, funquer “give off smoke,” Old North French fungier, from Vulgar Latin fūmicāre, alteration of Latin fūmigāre fumigate

Word History and Origins

Origin of funk¹

C17 (in the sense: tobacco smoke): from funk (vb) to smoke (tobacco), probably of French dialect origin; compare Old French funkier to smoke, from Latin fūmigāre

Origin of funk²

C20: back formation from funky ¹

Origin of funk³

C18: university slang, perhaps related to funk ²

Example Sentences

In some ways, this 2020 season, as chaotic as it has become because of the pandemic, has served as an attention-grabbing endeavor for Funk.

From Washington Post

Expect to hear vintage funk, deep house, downtempo and Baltimore club bangers — all adding up to the perfect weekend soundtrack, whether you’re on a makeshift dance floor on Friday night or just chilling on your sofa on Wednesday evening.

From Washington Post

A saison might showcase a brettanomyces yeast that carries the funk of a barnyard.

From Outside Online

Three thousand miles away, news of the project’s approval sent Bill Gow, a cattle rancher from southern Oregon, into a lasting funk.

From ProPublica

The slinky funk song playing in my head screeched to a halt.

From Ozy

But along with the cartoon funk is an all-too-real story of police brutality embodied by a horde of evil Pigs.

From The Daily Beast

The funk legend treats unsuspecting concertgoers to an impromptu show.

From The Daily Beast

The simultaneously upbeat and sentimental ode to friendship is equal parts funk, trance, pop, and R&B.

From The Daily Beast

But even after the funk of the Bush years dispersed, we were left with a deeper truth.

From The Daily Beast

The soul-funk innovator had some complex and (quite frankly) bizarre political views.

From The Daily Beast

Little time was lost in bringing the doctors—Anderson, of the man-of-war, and his friend Dr. Funk.

From Project Gutenberg

While I am by no means prepared to admit that I am what you so pleasingly term "a funk," I readily allow that——'

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly a white funk comes over me and I rush out and into the taxi again.

From Project Gutenberg

You seem to be taking things coolly, but I don't mind confessing that I'm in a blessed funk.

From Project Gutenberg

The fact is, I let Harry Tristram put me in a funk, you know.

From Project Gutenberg