junk

¹

[ juhngk ]

noun

1. any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags.

   Synonyms: refuse, debris, litter, rubbish

2. anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible; trash.

   Synonyms: refuse, debris, litter, rubbish

3. old cable or cordage used when untwisted for making gaskets, swabs, oakum, etc.
4. Nautical Slang. salt junk.
5. Baseball Slang. relatively slow, unorthodox pitches that are deceptive to the batter in movement or pace, as knuckleballs or forkballs.

verb (used with object)

1. to cast aside as junk; discard as no longer of use; scrap.

adjective

1. cheap, worthless, unwanted, or trashy.

junk

²

[ juhngk ]

noun

1. a seagoing ship with a traditional Chinese design and used primarily in Chinese waters, having square sails spread by battens, a high stern, and usually a flat bottom.

junk

³

[ juhngk ]

noun

Slang.

1. narcotics, especially heroin.
2. the external genitals:

   I kicked him in the junk.

junk

¹

/ dʒʌŋk /

noun

1. discarded or secondhand objects, etc, collectively
2. informal.
   1. rubbish generally
   2. nonsense

      the play was absolute junk

3. slang.
   any narcotic drug, esp heroin

verb

1. informal.
   tr to discard as junk; scrap

junk

²

/ dʒʌŋk /

noun

1. a sailing vessel used in Chinese waters and characterized by a very high poop, flat bottom, and square sails supported by battens

Word History and Origins

Origin of junk¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English jonk, junk “(in sailing) old rope or cable”; further origin uncertain

Origin of junk²

First recorded in 1545–55; from Portuguese junco, from Malay jong “large boat, ship,” possibly from dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) chûn; compare Guangdong (Cantonese) dialect syùhn, (Mandarin) Chinese chuán

Origin of junk³

First recorded in 1920–25; perhaps special use of junk ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of junk¹

C15 jonke old useless rope

Origin of junk²

C17: from Portuguese junco, from Javanese jon; related to Dutch jonk

Example Sentences

“When I talk of cheating or short cuts, I’m not recommending junk food or ready meals,” she said.

From Salon

He says he almost missed the date after the notification went into his email junk folder.

From BBC

A sign promising “junk to gems” points the way.

From Los Angeles Times

This was the year when the government defaulted on its debt repayments, international rating agencies downgraded Ghana's creditworthiness to "junk status", and inflation skyrocketed to 54%.

From BBC

Brands that make unhealthy foods will be able to get round the government's junk food advertising ban if their adverts don't show products that break the rules.

From BBC

Related Words

• clutter
• debris
• rubbish
• rubble
• trash