punk

¹

[puhngk]

noun

1. any prepared substance, usually in stick form, that will smolder and can be used to light fireworks, fuses, etc.

2. dry, decayed wood that can be used as tinder.

3. conk.

4. a spongy substance derived from fungi; amadou; touchwood.

-punk

²

1. a combining form extracted from cyberpunk used to denote a rebellious, alternative genre or aesthetic in speculative fiction, art, fashion, etc., and added to a word that names its distinctive theme, often a form of technology.

punk

³

[puhngk]

noun

1. Slang.

   1. something or someone worthless or unimportant.

   2. a young ruffian; hoodlum.

   3. an inexperienced youth.

   4. a young male partner of a gay man.

   5. an apprentice, especially in the building trades.

   6. Prison Slang.,  a passive or submissive male inmate, especially one who is used for sex by another male inmate.

2. punk rock.

3. a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.

4. a punker.

5. Archaic.,  a prostitute.

adjective

1. Informal.,  poor in quality or condition.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of punk rock.

   a punk band.

3. pertaining to, characteristic of, or adopting punk styles.

   punk youths; punk hairstyles in various colors.

punk

¹

/ pʌŋk /

noun

1. dried decayed wood that smoulders when ignited: used as tinder

2. any of various other substances that smoulder when ignited, esp one used to light fireworks

punk

²

/ pʌŋk /

noun

1. 1. a youth movement of the late 1970s, characterized by anti-Establishment slogans and outrageous clothes and hairstyles

   2. an adherent of punk

   3. short for punk rock

   4. ( as modifier )

      a punk record

2. an inferior, rotten, or worthless person or thing

3. worthless articles collectively

4. a petty criminal or hoodlum

5. obsolete,  a young male homosexual; catamite

6. obsolete,  a prostitute

adjective

1. inferior, rotten, or worthless

punk

1. A type of rock 'n' roll with loud, energetic music and often harsh lyrics criticizing traditional society and culture. It was named after the punks, an anarchistic youth movement that surfaced in Great Britain in the 1970s.

Other Word Forms

• punkish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of punk¹

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90; origin uncertain

Origin of punk²

First recorded in 1590–1600; of obscure origin; the sense development is apparently “prostitute,” from “catamite,” from “hoodlum”; the adjective “poor in quality” (1896) is unclearly derived and perhaps a distinct word

Word History and Origins

Origin of punk¹

C18: of uncertain origin

Origin of punk²

C16: via Polari from Spanish pu ( n ) ta prostitute, pu ( n ) to male prostitute

Example Sentences

Those shape-shifting bogan qualities along with Louis' varied resume - kitchen hand, energy analyst, Uber driver, punk rocker, Tokyo resident – makes him "strangely qualified" to create a bogan translation.

Read more on BBC

St. Thomas says this is the moment she discovered her passion for photography, and over the next few decades, her life became consumed by punk rock shows and film rolls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Maggie St. Thomas had an unusual childhood that led to a lifetime of documenting rare moments in punk rock history.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Subject: Punk” chronicles the evolution of the SoCal punk scene through the decades, but how is this book more than just a collection of photos, and what does it represent to you?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Subject: Punk” is no bulls—, man.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bully 
• thug