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

This year's follow-up - tited Dance, No One's Watching - is both an invitation and an invocation, with supple funk grooves that propelled the album into the top 10.

From BBC

Over an infectiously luscious funk production, Saafir’s verse was unlike anything in hip-hop at the time.

From Los Angeles Times

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue had mostly wanted his team to stay the course while in their funk, but he also wanted his group to clean up some things.

From Los Angeles Times

When Louis picks the offer of vampirism to pull himself out of his funk, he immediately regrets it.

From Salon

For him to break out of his funk, Ohtani was required to break out of his.

From Los Angeles Times