English

edit

Etymology

edit

Apparently from Gunk, trademark name for a liquid soap; perhaps taken as a blend of grime +‎ funk.

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ɡʌŋk/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌŋk

Noun

edit

gunk (countable and uncountable, plural gunks)

  1. (uncountable, informal) Dirt or grime; any vague, messy, or unknown substance.
    I washed all the gunk off the light fixture, and found that it was white, not brown.
    • 1989 May 18, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic):
      Don't get gunk on me. I took a bath last Saturday and I'm all clean.
  2. (uncountable) A subculture of 21st century American males, combining elements of modern gothic culture with punk rock.
  3. (countable) A member of the gunk subculture.

Synonyms

edit

Derived terms

edit

Translations

edit

Verb

edit

gunk (third-person singular simple present gunks, present participle gunking, simple past and past participle gunked)

  1. To soil or make dirty

Anagrams

edit