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Definition of junk noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

junk

noun
 
/dʒʌŋk/
 
/dʒʌŋk/
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  1. [uncountable] things that are considered to have no use or value synonym rubbish
    • I've cleared out all that old junk in the attic.
    • There's nothing but junk on the TV.
    • (informal, disapproving) Is this all your junk (= are these all your things)?
    Synonyms thingsthingsstuff ▪ property ▪ possessions ▪ junk ▪ belongings ▪ goods ▪ valuablesThese are all words for objects or items, especially ones that you own or have with you at a particular time.things (rather informal) objects, clothing or tools that you own or that are used for a particular purpose:
    • Shall I help you pack your things?
    • Bring your swimming things.
    stuff [U] (informal) used to refer to a group of objects when you do not know their names, when the names are not important or when it is obvious what you are talking about:
    • Where’s all my stuff?
    property [U] (rather formal) a thing or things that are owned by somebody:
    • This building is government property.
    • Be careful not to damage other people’s property.
    possessions things that you own, especially something that can be moved:
    • Prisoners were allowed no personal possessions except letters and photographs.
    junk [U] things that are considered useless or of little value:
    • I’ve cleared out all that old junk from the attic.
    belongings possessions that can be moved, especially ones that you have with you at a particular time:
    • Please make sure you have all your belongings with you when leaving the plane.
    goods (specialist or rather formal) possessions that can be moved:
    • He was found guilty of handling stolen goods.
    valuables things that are worth a lot of money, especially small personal things such as jewellery or cameras:
    • Never leave cash or other valuables lying around.
    Patterns
    • personal things/​stuff/​property/​possessions/​belongings
    • to collect/​gather/​pack (up) your things/​stuff/​possessions/​belongings
    • to search somebody’s/​your/​the things/​stuff/​property/​belongings
    • to go through somebody’s/​your/​the things/​stuff/​belongings
    Extra Examples
    • There were bits of junk lying around.
    • They cleared out the junk room (= a room where you keep things that you no longer need or want) to make a tiny bedroom.
    • sculptures made from old junk and scrap metal
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • old
    • useless
    … of junk
    • bit
    • piece
    • heap
    • …
    junk + verb
    • lie about
    • lie around
    junk + noun
    • shop
    • room
    • heap
    • …
    See full entry
  2. (also junk food)
     [uncountable] (informal, disapproving) food that is quick and easy to prepare and eat but that is thought to be bad for your health
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • old
    • useless
    … of junk
    • bit
    • piece
    • heap
    • …
    junk + verb
    • lie about
    • lie around
    junk + noun
    • shop
    • room
    • heap
    • …
    See full entry
  3. [countable] a Chinese boat with a square sail and a flat bottomTopics Transport by waterc2
    4. Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 late Middle English (denoting an old or inferior rope): of unknown origin. The current senses date from the mid 19th cent. noun sense 3 mid 16th cent.: from obsolete French juncque or Portuguese junco, from Malay jong, reinforced by Dutch jonk.
See junk in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: junk

Nearby words

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adjective
 
 
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