trash

[ trash ]

noun

1. anything worthless, useless, or discarded; rubbish.
2. foolish or pointless ideas, talk, or writing; nonsense.
3. a worthless or disreputable person.
4. such persons collectively.
5. literary or artistic material of poor or inferior quality.

   Synonyms: tripe, rubbish, twaddle, hogwash, rot, drivel

6. broken or torn bits, as twigs, splinters, rags, or the like.
7. something that is broken or lopped off from anything in preparing it for use.
8. the refuse of sugarcane after the juice has been expressed.
9. Computers. an icon of a trash can that is used to delete files dragged onto it.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to destroy, damage, or vandalize, as in anger or protest:

   The slovenly renters had trashed the house.

2. to condemn, dismiss, or criticize as worthless:

   The article trashed several recent best-sellers.

3. to remove the outer leaves of (a growing sugarcane plant).
4. to free from superfluous twigs or branches.

trash

¹

/ træʃ /

verb

1. tr to restrain with or as if with a lead

noun

1. a lead for a dog

trash

²

/ træʃ /

noun

1. foolish ideas or talk; nonsense
2. useless or unwanted matter or objects
3. a literary or artistic production of poor quality
4. a poor or worthless person or a group of such people
5. bits that are broken or lopped off, esp the trimmings from trees or plants
6. the dry remains of sugar cane after the juice has been extracted

verb

1. to remove the outer leaves and branches from (growing plants, esp sugar cane)
2. slang.
   to attack or destroy (someone or something) wilfully or maliciously

Derived Forms

• ˈtrashery, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trash¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English trasches (plural), apparently cognate with Norwegian trask “rubbish”; akin to Old English trus “brushwood,” Old Norse tros “rubbish”

Word History and Origins

Origin of trash¹

C17: perhaps from obsolete French tracier to track, trace ¹

Origin of trash²

C16: of obscure origin; perhaps related to Norwegian trask

Example Sentences

Half a stale baguette wasn’t trash; it was bread pudding or croutons or something I could blitz into breadcrumbs.

From Salon

Finally, engineering Trump’s Senate acquittal after the House impeached him for inciting an insurrection that trashed the Capitol McConnell professes to revere.

From Los Angeles Times

His on-field trash talk crossed lines and prompted apologies on more than one occasion.

From BBC

Some have asked for more efficient trash skimmers that could help prevent waste from clogging the treatment plant.

From Los Angeles Times

It also includes all food purchased by individuals or served at restaurants that ends up in the trash.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• debris
• droppings
• junk
• litter
• residue
• rubbish
• rubble
• sediment
• waste