funk

Use funk in a sentence

noun

The definition of funk is a foul odor, or a type of R&B music with a heavy bassline that became popular in the 1970s.
1. An example of funk is the smell of a high school boy's locker room.
2. An example of funk is the music of James Brown.
Funk means a feeling of being depressed or overwhelmed by anxiety or fear.
An example of a funk is postpartum depression.

verb

Funk is defined as to be afraid.
An example of funk is going to a party and feeling anxious about talking to new people.

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"funk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk>.

APA Style

funk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk

funk

the condition of being greatly afraid or in a panic
a low, depressed mood
also blue funk

Origin of funk

from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Flemish fonck, dismay

Old-fashioned to be afraid

Chiefly Brit. to avoid as because of fear; shrink from

Obs. a musty odor, as of moldy tobacco
funky jazz
a form of rhythm and blues originating in the 1970s in which highly syncopated polyrhythms are combined with a prominent, jerky bass line, minimal harmonic structure, and declamatory vocalizing

Origin of funk

back-formation from funky

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MLA Style

"funk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk>.

APA Style

funk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk

funk

noun

A strong, usually unpleasant smell; reek.

Origin of funk

Probably ultimately from a northern French dialectal source such as PicardWalloon funquer to produce smoke from Vulgar Latin fūmicāre alteration of Latin fūmigāre ; see fumigate .

noun

Music
a. A hearty or earthy quality appreciated in music such as jazz or soul.
b. A type of popular music combining elements of jazz, blues, and soul and characterized by syncopated rhythm and a heavy, repetitive bassline.
Slang An unsophisticated quality or atmosphere of a region or locality: “The setting is country funk” ( Nina Martin )

Origin of funk

Back-formation from funky ²

noun

a. A state of cowardly fright; a panic.
b. A state of severe depression.
A cowardly, fearful person.

verb

funked, funk·ing, funks

verb

transitive

To shrink from in fright or dread.
To be afraid of.

verb

intransitive

To shrink in fright.

Origin of funk

Probably from obsolete Flemish fonck disturbance, agitation of unknown origin

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"funk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk>.

APA Style

funk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk

Casimir 1884–1967

Polish-born American biochemist who is credited with the discovery of vitamins. In 1912 he postulated the existence of four organic bases he called vitamines which were necessary for normal health and the prevention of deficiency diseases. He also contributed to the knowledge of the hormones of the pituitary gland and the sex glands.

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MLA Style

"funk." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk>.

APA Style

funk. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/funk

Noun

(plural funks)

(obsolete) spark
(obsolete) touchwood, punk, tinder

Origin

From Middle English funke, fonke (“spark”), from Old English *funca, *fanca (“spark”), from Proto-Germanic *funkô, *fankô (“spark”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peng-, *(s)pheng- (“to shine”). Cognate with Middle Low German funke, fanke (“spark”), Middle Dutch vonke (“spark”), Old High German funcho, funko (“spark”), German Funke (“spark”). More at spunk.

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural funks)

(countable) mental depression
(uncountable) A state of fear or panic, especially cowardly

Verb

(third-person singular simple present funks, present participle funking, simple past and past participle funked)

To shrink from, or avoid something because of fear

Origin

1743, Scottish and Northern English dialectal word, originally a verb meaning "to panic, fail due to panic". Perhaps from or cognate with obsolete Dutch fonck (“distress, agitation”), from Middle Dutch fonck (“perturbation, agitation”). More at flunk.

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural funks)

(countable) Foul or unpleasant smell, especially body odour.
(uncountable) Music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel, or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present funks, present participle funking, simple past and past participle funked)

(intransitive) To emit an offensive smell; to stink.
To envelop with an offensive smell or smoke.

Origin

1620, from French dialectal (Norman) funquer, funquier (“to smoke, reek”), from Old Northern French fungier (“to smoke”), from Vulgar Latin fūmicāre, alteration of Latin fūmigāre (“to smoke, fumigate”). Related to French dialect funkière (“smoke”). More at fumigate.