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

Occasionally, Woo leaps over a trash can or a recycling bin, as if to taunt me for my lack of hops.

Read more on Literature

“I mean, he was fascinated by trash. And did you see his clothes? There’s something wrong with him. Something off.”

Read more on Literature

“I’m always going to be all for trash talking ... stuff like that,” Ramsey told reporters after the game.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the 2008 animated movie, science and technology have provided humanity every known convenience—trashing the Earth in the process.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Residents report bears rummaging through trash, raiding chicken coops and—like any good Southern Californian—dipping into backyard pools.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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