Dictionary.com

funk

1
[ fuhngk ]
/ fʌŋk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR funk

noun

cowering fear; state of great fright or terror.
a dejected mood: He's been in a funk ever since she walked out on him.

verb (used with object)

to be afraid of.
to frighten.
to shrink from; try to shirk.

verb (used without object)

to shrink or quail in fear.

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Origin of funk

1
1735–45; perhaps <early Dutch dialect fonck

OTHER WORDS FROM funk

funker, noun

Words nearby funk

funiculitis, funiculopexy, funiculus, funiform, funis, funk, funked, funk hole, funkia, funkster, funky

Definition for funk (2 of 3)

funk2
[ fuhngk ]
/ fʌŋk /

noun

music having a funky quality.
the state or quality of being funky.
a strong smell; stench.

Origin of funk

2
1615–25; perhaps <North French dialect funquier, funquer give off smoke, Old North French fungier<Vulgar Latin fūmicāre, alteration of Latin fūmigāre;see fumigate

Definition for funk (3 of 3)

Funk
[ foongk, fuhngk ]
/ fʊŋk, fʌŋk /

noun

Cas·i·mir [kaz-uh-meer], /ˈkæz əˌmɪər/, 1884–1967, U.S. biochemist, born in Poland: discovered thiamine, the first vitamin isolated.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to funk

gloom, fright, alarm, despondency, misery, panic, trembling, cold sweat

Example sentences from the Web for funk

British Dictionary definitions for funk (1 of 4)

funk1
/ (fʌŋk) informal, mainly British /

noun

Also called: blue funk a state of nervousness, fear, or depression (esp in the phrase in a funk)
a coward

verb

to flinch from (responsibility) through fear
(tr; usually passive) to make afraid

Derived forms of funk

funker, noun

Word Origin for funk

C18: university slang, perhaps related to funk ²

British Dictionary definitions for funk (2 of 4)

funk2
/ (fʌŋk) /

noun

US slang a strong foul odour

Word Origin for funk

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

British Dictionary definitions for funk (3 of 4)

funk3
/ (fʌŋk) /

noun

informal a type of polyrhythmic Black dance music with heavy syncopation

Word Origin for funk

C20: back formation from funky 1

British Dictionary definitions for funk (4 of 4)

Funk
/ (fʌŋk) /

noun

Casimir (ˈkæzɪˌmɪə). 1884–1967, US biochemist, born in Poland: studied and named vitamins
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

Medical definitions for funk

Funk
[ fŭngk, fōōngk ]
Casimir 1884-1967

Polish-born American biochemist whose research of deficiency diseases led to the discovery of vitamins, which he named in 1912.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for funk

Funk
[ fŭngk, fōōngk ]
Casimir 1884-1967

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.