noun
gunk
guhngk
noun
1
Any sticky, dirty, or unidentifiable substance.
"There was a layer of gunk stuck to the bottom of the pan."
"He wiped the gunk off his shoes after the hike."
verb
1
To make dirty or clog with a sticky substance.
"Old oil had gunked up the engine."
How to Use Gunk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA vague, informal word for grime or a messy, sticky substance.
When to use it
Casual and informal — used in everyday speech, not technical writing.
Common pairings
gunk up
sticky gunk
layer of gunk
Word Forms
gunked past tense, gunks plural, gunks singular
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Etymology
Originally from Gunk, a trademarked name for a liquid soap product, likely blending "grime" and "funk".