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funk2

Pronunciation: /fʌŋk/

Definition of funk

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a style of popular dance music of US black origin, based on elements of blues and soul and having a strong rhythm that typically accentuates the first beat in the bar: a mixture of punk and funk [as modifier]:a funk bass line
  • 2 [in singular] North American informal, dated a strong musty smell of sweat or tobacco: our sweat mingles, but the funk makes my stomach dizzy [mass noun]:he prowled his office trailing the telltale odour of funk

verb

[with object] (funk something up)
  • give music elements of funk: we’re bringing back the old Motown sound and funking it up (as adjective funked-up)funked-up songs

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'musty smell'): perhaps from French dialect funkier 'blow smoke on', based on Latin fumus 'smoke'

funk in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of funk in the US English dictionary

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