trash

A2 · Elementary Countable noun American English

n. a container or bin where you put things you want to throw away.

n. a receptacle for waste; often used metonymically for the bin itself.

“I threw the empty candy wrapper into the trash.”

“He searched through the office trash for the discarded memo, hoping it hadn't been emptied by the cleaning crew yet.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal

n. something that is of very poor quality, like a bad book or movie.

n. something considered worthless, inferior, or of poor quality; often used to describe media or art.

“That movie was absolute trash; I want my money back.”

“Critics dismissed the novel as commercial trash, though it remained at the top of the bestseller list for several months.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Computing American English

n. a place on a computer where files go after you delete them.

n. a digital folder or temporary storage area for files marked for deletion.

“If you accidentally deleted the photo, check the trash on your desktop.”

“The system is configured to automatically empty the trash every thirty days to free up storage space on the hard drive.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to damage or ruin a place or thing, often on purpose.

v. to damage, vandalise, or completely ruin a physical space or object.

“The hotel room was trashed after the wild party.”

“Vandals broke into the community centre overnight and trashed the main hall, breaking furniture and spraying paint on the walls.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to say very bad things about someone or something.

v. to criticise or disparage someone or something severely.

“The critics trashed his new play in the morning newspapers.”

“It is unprofessional to trash your former employer during a job interview, regardless of how the relationship ended.”