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conk

1
[ kongk, kawngk ]
/ kɒŋk, kɔŋk /
Slang.
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See synonyms for: conk / conked on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
to hit or strike on the head.
noun
a blow on the head.
the head.
British. the nose.
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Origin of conk

1
First recorded in 1805–15; of obscure origin

Other definitions for conk (2 of 4)

conk2
[ kongk, kawngk ]
/ kɒŋk, kɔŋk /
verb (used without object) Slang.
to break or fail, as a machine or engine (often followed by out): The engine conked out halfway there.
to slow down or stop; lose energy (often followed by out).
to go to sleep (usually followed by off or out).
to lose consciousness; faint (usually followed by out).
to die (usually followed by out).

Origin of conk

2
First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps imitative of the sound

Other definitions for conk (3 of 4)

conk3
[ kongk, kawngk ]
/ kɒŋk, kɔŋk /
noun Mycology.
the shelflike fruiting body of certain wood-decaying fungi; bracket fungus

Origin of conk

3
An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM conk

conky, adjective

Other definitions for conk (4 of 4)

conk4
[ kongk, kawngk ]
/ kɒŋk, kɔŋk /
Slang.
noun
a method of chemically straightening the hair.
a hairstyle in which the hair has been chemically straightened and sometimes set into waves.
verb (used with object)
to straighten (kinky hair) by the use of chemicals: to have one's hair conked.
Also process .

Origin of conk

4
First recorded in 1940–45; probably shortening and alteration of congolene, alleged to be the name of a hair straightener made from Congo copal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to conk

decease, fail, faint, hit, knock, stall, straighten, swat

How to use conk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for conk

conk
/ (kɒŋk) slang /
verb
to strike (someone) a blow, esp on the head or nose
noun
a punch or blow, esp on the head or nose
the head or (esp Brit and NZ) the nose

Word Origin for conk

C19: probably changed from conch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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