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garbage

n. · adj.
US //ˈɡɑɹbɪdʒ// UK //ɡˈɑːbɪdʒ// garbage
  1. 1 waste material (n.)
    A2 Elementary American English

    things that you throw away because you do not want them anymore.

    waste material, refuse, or litter, especially food waste and household items.

    Example

    Don't forget to take the garbage out to the bin before you leave.

    Example

    The city council implemented a new system to separate organic garbage from recyclable plastics to reduce the volume of landfill waste.

    Usage

    Uncountable noun; does not have a plural form in this sense.
  2. 2 nonsense (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    something that is not true or is very stupid.

    worthless or nonsensical ideas, talk, or creative work.

    Example

    I don't believe a word of that story; it's complete garbage.

    Example

    The critic dismissed the latest blockbuster as pure garbage, citing its predictable plot and wooden acting.
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  1. 3 unused memory (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    data in a computer's memory that is no longer needed but still takes up space.

    allocated memory that is no longer reachable by the program but has not yet been reclaimed.

    Example

    The program slowed down because it didn't clear the garbage from its memory.

    Example

    The language features an automatic garbage collector that identifies and deallocates objects no longer in use by the application.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'garbage collection'.
    • junk data
  2. 4 very bad (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang

    of very poor quality; not good at all.

    extremely poor in quality or performance; used as a predicative adjective.

    Example

    The weather was garbage all weekend, so we stayed inside.

    Example

    I tried to watch that new series, but the writing was so garbage I couldn't finish the first episode.
Origin

From late Middle English garbage (“the offal of a fowl, giblets, kitchen waste”, originally “refuse, what is purged away”), from Anglo-Norman, from Old French garber (“to refine, make neat or clean”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *garwijan (“to make ready”). Akin to Old High German garawan (“to prepare, make ready”), Old English ġearwian (“to make ready, adorn”). More at garb, yare, gear

Idioms1 entry

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