bunk
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a narrow bed, often built into a wall or part of a pair where one is on top of the other.
n.a narrow, often built-in bed or berth, frequently arranged in tiers of two or more.
Simple“The children fought over who would get to sleep in the top bunk.”
In context“The sailors retired to their bunks after a grueling twelve-hour shift, finding little comfort in the cramped quarters of the lower deck.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.something that is not true or does not make sense.
n.nonsense or foolish talk; often used to dismiss an argument as completely false.
Simple“Don't believe what he says; it is a load of bunk.”
In context“The critic dismissed the director's explanation of the film's symbolism as pure bunk, arguing that the plot was simply poorly constructed.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is a shortened form of 'bunkum' and is more common in American English, though understood elsewhere.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to stay away from school or work without permission.
v.to be absent from school or work without authorization; frequently used in the phrasal form 'bunk off'.
Simple“They decided to bunk off school and go to the cinema instead.”
In context“Several employees were disciplined after it was discovered they had been bunking off work to attend the local football matches.”
UsageOften takes the particle 'off' in British English.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to sleep in a bunk or to share a room with someone.
v.to occupy a bunk or to share sleeping quarters, typically in a temporary or institutional setting.
Simple“During the summer camp, I bunked with three other students in a small cabin.”
In context“The soldiers were required to bunk together in large dormitories, leaving very little room for personal belongings.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
adj.not working correctly or of very poor quality.
adj.defective, non-functional, or of inferior quality; often used to describe faulty equipment or disappointing experiences.
Simple“I tried to use the vending machine, but it's totally bunk.”
In context“The entire weekend was bunk because the weather was terrible and the hotel lost our reservation.”
Sense of sleeping berth possibly from Scottish English bunker (“seat, bench”), origin is uncertain but possibly Scandinavian. Compare Old Swedish bunke (“boards used to protect the cargo of a ship”). See also boarding, flooring and compare bunch.
Shortened from bunkum, a variant of buncombe, from Buncombe County, North Carolina. See bunkum for more.
19th century, of uncertain origin; perhaps from previous "to occupy a bunk" meaning, with connotations of a hurried departure, as if on a ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.