jungle

[ juhng-guhl ]

noun

1. a wild land overgrown with dense vegetation, often nearly impenetrable, especially tropical vegetation or a tropical rainforest.
2. a tract of such land.
3. a wilderness of dense overgrowth; a piece of swampy, thickset forestland.
4. any confused mass or agglomeration of objects; jumble:

   a jungle of wrecked automobiles.

5. something that baffles or perplexes; maze:

   a jungle of legal double-talk.

6. a scene of violence and struggle for survival:

   The neglected prison was a jungle for its inmates.

7. a place or situation of ruthless competition:

   the advertising jungle.

8. Slang.
   1. (in historical use) a hobo camp:

      We found him by the campfire, with many similarly raggedy hobos in what is known as a jungle.

   2. any camp of unhoused individuals:

      Law enforcement clears the jungle and tears down the temporary structures a few times each year, but people return and a new encampment always springs up.

jungle

/ ˈdʒʌŋɡəl /

noun

1. an equatorial forest area with luxuriant vegetation, often almost impenetrable
2. any dense or tangled thicket or growth
3. a place of intense competition or ruthless struggle for survival

   the concrete jungle

4. a type of fast electronic dance music, originating in the early 1990s, which combines elements of techno and ragga
5. slang.
   (esp in the Depression) a gathering place for the unemployed, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈjungly, adjective

Other Words From

• jun·gled adjective
• un·der·jun·gle noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jungle¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from Hindi jaṅgal, from Sanskrit jaṅgala “uncultivated land, dry land, waterless place”

Word History and Origins

Origin of jungle¹

C18: from Hindi jangal, from Sanskrit jāngala wilderness

Idioms and Phrases

see law of the jungle .

Example Sentences

When “Queer” makes its way to its third act in the South American jungles, things take a turn for the bizarre.

From Salon

“Most guys have treated me well, but I have been bullied. It’s like a small jungle,” he said in the People interview.

From Los Angeles Times

The more we learn about these civilizations that are now beneath the dense jungle canopy, the more we may be able to learn about our future.

From Salon

As players led a brawny ape and a cartwheeling monkey through jungles, ancient ruins and snowscapes, they were treated to a musical smorgasbord of atmospheric tunes.

From New York Times

In an emotional conversation, McGuigan told his jungle campmates on the ITV reality show about how she originally recovered from leukaemia as a child after two years of treatment.

From BBC

Related Words

• forest
• wasteland
• wood