junction

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noun junc·tion \ ˈjəŋ(k)-shən \

Definition of junction

1 :an act of joining :the state of being joined

2 a :a place or point of meeting

b :an intersection of roads especially where one terminates

c :a point (as in a thermocouple) at which dissimilar metals make contact

d :an interface in a semiconductor device between regions with different electrical characteristics

3 :something that joins

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junctional

play \ˈjəŋ(k)-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See junction defined for English-language learners

See junction defined for kids

Examples of junction in a Sentence

a junction of nerves and muscle
the junction of Route 12 and Route 87

Recent Examples of junction from the Web

This closure will block some ramps at the I-5/405 junction and cause more havoc than previous repaving south of Southcenter.

— mike lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Your guide to weekend traffic troubles: 520 bridge is closed, and delays await on I-5," 25 Aug. 2017
About 150 to 200 ants also were present along the floor/wall junction in the dish area.

— joyce smith, kansascity, "Three Kansas restaurants cited for roach infestations," 1 Aug. 2017
The July 6 derailment, the third since late March at Penn Station, happened at a crucial junction that is currently closed for repairs.

— emma g. fitzsimmons, New York Times, "Derailment at Penn Station on July 6 Was Caused by Track Defect," 19 July 2017
Anyone visiting, or anyone who is lost and finds themselves at the junction of Claiborne Street and Highway 265, is encouraged to stop and thump the watermelons.

— amanda walker, AL.com, "Hiding painted rocks helps communities find joy," 17 July 2017
The Laserlight combines a white light, which complies with a British law mandating lights on the handlebars, with a laser image that gets beamed out of blind spots, junctions and situations where bicyclists can’t be seen.

— carole glines, Fox News, "Smart & Safe Tech: Blaze Laserlight makes cyclists safer on the road," 10 July 2017
The slowmotion train-wreck that is Italy’s banking system rumbled through another junction Tuesday, as the EU approved a 5.4 billion euro bailout of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the biggest and most problematic of the country’s problem banks.

— alan murray, Fortune, "CEO Daily: Wednesday, 5th July," 5 July 2017
The Washington State Patrol said a motorcyclist was heading south on I-5 at the I-90 junction about 9 a.m. Tuesday when the crash occurred.

— paige gross, The Seattle Times, "Two motorcyclists killed in Seattle-area I-5 crashes in 24 hours," 4 July 2017
This generation is set apart by a striking front end with sharper headlight clusters, narrower single-fin grille and steeply sloped hood with a deep crease leading up from the headlight/grille junction to the A-pillar.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "VW Golf SEL, now the Wolfsburg, offers lots of standard amenities, safety features," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'junction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of junction

Latin junction-, junctio, from jungere to join — more at yoke

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1711

See Words from the same year

junction Synonyms

Synonyms

connection, coupling, join, joining, jointure, joint, juncture

Antonyms

breakup, disconnection, dissolution, disunion, division, parting, partition, schism, scission, split

Related Words

link, nexus, tie; interconnection, intersection; abutment, articulation, attachment; seam, suture; concourse, confluence, meeting; union

Near Antonyms

cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, gap, rift, separation

JUNCTION Defined for English Language Learners

junction

play

noun

Definition of junction for English Language Learners

: a place where two things join
: a place where roads or railroad lines come together
: a road or ramp that you use when getting off a highway

JUNCTION Defined for Kids

junction

play

noun junc·tion \ ˈjəŋk-shən \

Definition of junction for Students

1 :a place or point where two or more things meet

2 :an act of joining

Medical Dictionary

junction

play

noun junc·tion \ ˈjəŋ(k)-shən \

medical Definition of junction

:a place or point of meeting

the structure of the synaptic junction as revealed by electron microscopy

— see neuromuscular junction

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junctional

play \-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl\ adjective

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See words that rhyme with junction Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for junction Spanish Central: Translation of junction Nglish: Translation of junction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of junction for Arabic speakers

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junction

Definition of junction

junctional

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Examples of junction in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of junction

junction Synonyms

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JUNCTION Defined for English Language Learners

junction

Definition of junction for English Language Learners

JUNCTION Defined for Kids

junction

Definition of junction for Students

Medical Dictionary

junction

medical Definition of junction

junctional

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