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punk

[ puhngk ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Slang.
1. something or someone worthless or unimportant.
2. a young ruffian; hoodlum.
3. an inexperienced youth.
4. a young male partner of a gay man.
5. an apprentice, especially in the building trades.
6. Prison Slang. a passive or submissive male inmate, especially one who is used for sex by another male inmate.
punk rock.
a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.
a punker.
Archaic. a prostitute.

adjective

Informal. poor in quality or condition.
of, relating to, or characteristic of punk rock:
a punk band.
pertaining to, characteristic of, or adopting punk styles:
punk youths; punk hairstyles in various colors.

punk

[ puhngk ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any prepared substance, usually in stick form, that will smolder and can be used to light fireworks, fuses, etc.
dry, decayed wood that can be used as tinder.
conk ³( def ).
a spongy substance derived from fungi; amadou; touchwood.

-punk

a combining form extracted from cyberpunk used to denote a rebellious, alternative genre or aesthetic in speculative fiction, art, fashion, etc., and added to a word that names its distinctive theme, often a form of technology: steampunk solarpunk hopepunk

punk

/ ��ʌŋ�� /

noun

1. a youth movement of the late 1970s, characterized by anti-Establishment slogans and outrageous clothes and hairstyles
2. an adherent of punk
3. short for punk rock
4. ( as modifier )
  a punk record
an inferior, rotten, or worthless person or thing
worthless articles collectively
a petty criminal or hoodlum
obsolete.
a young male homosexual; catamite
obsolete.
a prostitute

adjective

inferior, rotten, or worthless

punk

/ ��ʌŋ�� /

noun

dried decayed wood that smoulders when ignited: used as tinder
any of various other substances that smoulder when ignited, esp one used to light fireworks

punk

A type of rock 'n' roll with loud, energetic music and often harsh lyrics criticizing traditional society and culture . It was named after the punks, an anarchistic youth movement that surfaced in Great Britain in the 1970s.

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ܲ԰쾱��, adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of punk¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; of obscure origin; the sense development is apparently “prostitute,” from “catamite,” from “hoodlum”; the adjective “poor in quality” (1896) is unclearly derived and perhaps a distinct word

Origin of punk²

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90; origin uncertain

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Word History and Origins

Origin of punk¹

C16: via Polari from Spanish pu ( n ) ta prostitute, pu ( n ) to male prostitute

Origin of punk²

C18: of uncertain origin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The group’s 1978 LP, “The Modern Dance,” was a landmark of post-punk and new wave ambition that arrived just as punk itself crested in the U.S.

From

That said, he maintains a lot of affection for the punk era that launched Goldenvoice in the early 1980s.

From

Her first feature-length film, “The Other F Word,” highlighted the evolution of anti-authoritarian punk rockers, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, who had to exert authority as fathers.

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It’s where you can catch most of the punk bands on the festival bill and it is one of the coolest spots, literally and figuratively.

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This year’s crop of artists bring us a mix of vintage soul, pulsating EDM, Aussie punk swagger, Irish hip-hop and everything in between.

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Related Words

punji stake punka

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