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 /

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

trash

²

/ træʃ /

verb

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

noun

1. a lead for a dog

Other Word Forms

• trashery 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

C16: of obscure origin; perhaps related to Norwegian trask

Origin of trash²

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

Example Sentences

The trial also made national news after Ortega cross-examined Border Patrol sector chief Gregory Bovino about previous comments he had made describing undocumented immigrants as “scum, filth and trash.”

From Los Angeles Times

In speech at Labour's conference, Miliband said fracking would "not take a penny off bills" and "trash our climate commitments".

From BBC

"I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges."

From BBC

Detainees rushed to get trash cans and mops, but in some cells water rose.

From Los Angeles Times

In the tribal world of K-Pop, such cases are surprisingly common, as overzealous fans attempt to trash their rivals.

From BBC

Related Words

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