junk

[ juhngk ]

/ dʒʌŋk /

See synonyms for: junk / junked / junker / junkest on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

old cable or cordage used when untwisted for making gaskets, swabs, oakum, etc.

Nautical Slang. salt junk.

Baseball Slang. relatively slow, unorthodox pitches that are deceptive to the batter in movement or pace, as knuckleballs or forkballs.

verb (used with object)

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

adjective

cheap, worthless, unwanted, or trashy.

SYNONYMS FOR junk

1, 2 rubbish, litter, debris, refuse.

See synonyms for junk on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of junk

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

Definition for junk (2 of 3)

junk²

[ juhngk ]

/ dʒʌŋk /

noun

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.

Origin of junk

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

Definition for junk (3 of 3)

junk³

[ juhngk ]

/ dʒʌŋk /

noun Slang.

narcotics, especially heroin.

the external genitals: I kicked him in the junk.

Origin of junk

First recorded in 1920–25; perhaps special use of junk¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for junk

Here came great fleets of junks from China laden with stores.
A History of the Philippines|David P. Barrows
Commodore Keppel attacked and carried a second battery, and then sent his division of boats against another squadron of junks.
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves|W.H.G. Kingston
They all anxiously watched the junks; they were steering to the north-west.
The Three Midshipmen|W.H.G. Kingston
Keep on with some nice, light, playful idea or two, such as the flying kites and contriving busters for the Chinese junks.
Stan Lynn|George Manville Fenn

At dusk I got back to the river, and found that a wind had sprung up and the junks were trying to pass the rapid.
Appearances|Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson

British Dictionary definitions for junk (1 of 2)

junk¹

/ (dʒʌŋk) /

noun

discarded or secondhand objects, etc, collectively

informal

rubbish generally
nonsensethe play was absolute junk

slang any narcotic drug, esp heroin

verb

(tr) informal to discard as junk; scrap

Word Origin for junk

C15 jonke old useless rope

British Dictionary definitions for junk (2 of 2)

junk²

/ (dʒʌŋk) /

noun

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

Word Origin for junk

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

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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junk