gunk

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

gunk (countable and uncountable, plural gunks)

  1. (uncountable, informal) Grime, dirt, slime; 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.

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Translations

Verb

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

  1. To soil or make dirty.

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