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noun Uncommon

bunk

buhngk

Bunk (noun) means a narrow bed, often one of a stacked pair, as found on a ship, in a cabin, or a dorm. Example: “He climbed into the top bunk of the bunk bed.”

noun
1
A narrow bed, often one of a stacked pair, as found on a ship, in a cabin, or a dorm.
"He climbed into the top bunk of the bunk bed."
2
Nonsense; empty or foolish talk.
"That excuse is a load of bunk."
verb
1
British informal: to skip school or work without permission.
"They bunked off class to go to the arcade."
adj
1
Broken or not functioning properly.
"The old radio's gone bunk."

How to use bunk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA narrow bed, or (informally) nonsense — plus British slang for skipping school.

UK vs US

"Bunk off" (to skip school) is chiefly British; Americans would say "skip" or "play hooky."

Common pairings
bunk bed bunk off school a load of bunk

Word forms

bunked past tense, bunked past tense, bunks plural, bunks plural, Bunks plural, bunks singular, bunks singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He climbed into the top _____ of the bunk bed.

Etymology

The "sleeping berth" sense likely comes from Scottish English bunker, of uncertain but possibly Scandinavian origin.

Related words

Rhymes for bunk

See all rhymes for bunk →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bunk” mean?

The word “bunk” means a narrow bed, often one of a stacked pair, as found on a ship, in a cabin, or a dorm. In plain terms, a narrow bed, or (informally) nonsense — plus British slang for skipping school.

How do you pronounce “bunk”?

“Bunk” is pronounced buhngk (/bʌŋk/ in IPA).

How do you use “bunk” in a sentence?

Here is “bunk” used in a sentence: “He climbed into the top bunk of the bunk bed.”

What part of speech is “bunk”?

Depending on how it is used, “bunk” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.

Is “bunk” a common word?

“Bunk” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “bunk” have?

“Bunk” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a narrow bed, often one of a stacked pair, as found on a ship, in a cabin, or a dorm.

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