gunk
/ɡʌŋk/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A sticky, dirty, or unpleasant substance. It is often used for things like grease, grime, or thick dirt.
- There's gunk in the drain.
- Wipe off the gunk with a cloth.
- My phone had gunk on the screen.
verb
To fill, cover, or block something with gunk. This use is informal and less common.
- The pipe gunked up overnight.
- Dust gunked the fan blades.
- The engine gunked up again.
Adinary Nuance
Gunk is more casual than dirt and more vague than grease or slime. Use it when you want to talk about an ugly, sticky mess without naming the exact substance. It often sounds natural in spoken English and everyday writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chất bẩn
- Spanish
- suciedad
- Chinese
- 污垢
- Japanese
- 汚れ
- Korean
- 때
Etymology
Gunk appeared in American English in the early 20th century. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it likely began as slang for sticky dirt or sludge.
Common phrases
build up gunkremove gunkfull of gunkgunk up
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is gunk a formal word?
- No. It is informal and common in speech, but fine in everyday writing.
- What is the difference between gunk and grime?
- Gunk is broader and more casual. Grime usually means old dirt stuck on a surface.
- Can I say gunk up?
- Yes. It means to clog or make something dirty or blocked.
- Is gunk used for food?
- Sometimes, if the food is sticky and unpleasant, but it is not common.