junk

1
[ juhngk ]
See synonyms for junk on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags.

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

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

  2. Nautical Slang. salt junk.

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

verb (used with object)
  1. to cast aside as junk; discard as no longer of use; scrap.

adjective
  1. cheap, worthless, unwanted, or trashy.

Origin of junk

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English jonk, junk “(in sailing) old rope or cable”; further origin uncertain

Other words for junk

Words Nearby junk

Other definitions for junk (2 of 3)

junk2
[ juhngk ]

noun
  1. 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

2
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

Other definitions for junk (3 of 3)

junk3
[ juhngk ]

nounSlang.
  1. narcotics, especially heroin.

  2. the external genitals: I kicked him in the junk.

Origin of junk

3
First recorded in 1920–25; perhaps special use of junk1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use junk in a sentence

  • But as no junk-man came, and as no one could be found to care for its now sadly battered hulk, its good riddance became a problem.

    The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley Smith
  • We obliged them to proceed, passed close by the junk, and then landed, and continued our excursion on foot.

  • After he had married her, he'd sell out this pile of junk and let somebody else haggle with the Injuns and cowpunchers.

    Mystery Ranch | Arthur Chapman
  • Your Caroline, so enticing five hours before in this very chamber where she frisked about like an eel, is now a junk of lead.

  • Then bit by bit, he unloaded his mind, which appeared full of little things, like a junk shop.

    The Belted Seas | Arthur Colton

British Dictionary definitions for junk (1 of 2)

junk1

/ (dʒʌŋk) /


noun
  1. discarded or secondhand objects, etc, collectively

  2. informal

    • rubbish generally

    • nonsense: the play was absolute junk

  1. slang any narcotic drug, esp heroin

verb
  1. (tr) informal to discard as junk; scrap

Origin of junk

1
C15 jonke old useless rope

British Dictionary definitions for junk (2 of 2)

junk2

/ (dʒʌŋk) /


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

Origin of junk

2
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