Funk Meaning
/fʌŋk/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounFoul or unpleasant smell, especially body odor.
nounA style of music derived from 1960s soul music, with elements of rock and other styles, characterized by a prominent bass guitar, dance-friendly sound, a strong emphasis on the downbeat, and much syncopation.
Sentence Examples
Tom was in a funk.
Tom was in a funk band.
It's time to wash off that funk, Tom. You stink.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After losing his job, he fell into a deep ____ and didn't leave the house.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The DJ played a lively track with a strong ____ beat that got everyone on the dance floor instantly.
Word Origin & History
1620, from French dialectal (Norman) funquer, funquier (“to smoke, reek”), from Old Northern French fungier (“to smoke”), from Vulgar Latin fūmicāre, alteration of Latin fūmigāre (“to smoke, fumigate”). Related to French dialect funkière (“smoke”). More at fumigate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The foulest stench is in the air; the funk of 40,000 years and grizzly ghouls from every tomb are closing in to seal your doom."
— 1982, “Thriller”, in Rod Temperton (lyrics), Quincy Jones (music), Thriller, performed by Michael Jackson (featuring Vincent Price), Epic Records:
"He funks Basketia and her son to death"
— c. 1709, William King, The Furmentary:
"Funking a cobbler – that is, blowing smoke into his stall; smoking cigars at divans and club houses; […]"
— 2012, M. C. Beaton, Diana the Huntress:
"From the earliest part of this decade when he funked in relative obscurity to his days as a superstar with the release of his Batman soundtrack last summer, I could almost always count on Prince."
— 1989 December 17, Christopher Wittke, “On The Edge In The '80s”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 23, page 9:
"Snow bunny, I pledge to funk you baby / You sexy lady, my only temptation […] Oh, I just want to funk you"
— 2017, Bootsy Collins, “Snow Bunny”, in World Wide Funk:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After losing his job, he fell into a deep ____ and didn't leave the house.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The DJ played a lively track with a strong ____ beat that got everyone on the dance floor instantly.