rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygunkSticky dirt
noun

gunk

GUNK/ɡʌŋk/

A sticky, dirty, or unpleasant substance.

Thick gunk clogs the drain strainer and sticks to the ceramic surface.

A small metal drain strainer clogged with thick gray-brown gunk, with a sticky strand stretching from the strainer onto the white ceramic surface beneath it.
Etymology
gunkEnglishthick liquid soap trademark

Gunk apparently comes from the trademark for a thick liquid soap. The product name became a general term for viscous, dirty, or unpleasant material.

In context

MooLer435:00
wash your hands gamers you don't want to get gamer gunk all over your mouth
EFAP #188 - A complete breakdown of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once w/ Destiny and Jon CJG

More examples

  • I scrub the gunk off the stove.
  • This old lotion leaves greasy gunk on my hands.
  • The mechanic clears gunk from the clogged fuel line.

Forms

gunk

gunky adjective — Covered with sticky or unpleasant material.

Similar words

grime
Dirt coating a surface, not necessarily thick or sticky.
sludge
Usually thick, wet waste rather than any sticky dirt.
goo
A sticky substance that need not be dirty or unpleasant.