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junction

noun
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junc·​tion | \ ˈjəŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce junction (audio) \

Definition of junction

1 : an act of joining : the state of being joined
2a : 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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Other Words from junction

junctional \ ˈjəŋ(k)-​shnəl How to pronounce junctional (audio) , -​shə-​nᵊl \ adjective

Examples of junction in a Sentence

a junction of nerves and muscle the junction of Route 12 and Route 87
Recent Examples on the Web Each of the resolutions looks to name the junction of Interstate 85 and Interstate 385 near Greenville, where officials recently spent $300 million to build new bridges and untangle traffic. — BostonGlobe.com, "Trump mistakenly congratulates Kansas on Super Bowl win," 3 Feb. 2020 Another skipper with plenty of experience, Showalter could be a stabilizing force at this junction for Houston. — Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY, "Five candidates to replace A.J. Hinch as Houston Astros manager," 13 Jan. 2020 Incentives for business and amenities for workers A junction for interstate highways and rail lines, the Lehigh Valley is within an eight-hour drive of one-third of American consumers. — Patricia Cohen, New York Times, "What the Rebirth of This Old Steel Center Means for Trump," 9 Jan. 2020 The checkpoints were sited clearly, at road junctions or other obvious map points. — Simon Akam, Outside Online, "You Won’t Pass Chamonix’s Mountain Guiding Test," 27 Nov. 2019 Trail signs: Seven hundred new trail and way-finding signs are being installed at trailheads and trail junctions at 34 open space preserves. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Coming soon: New Bay Area trails and campgrounds," 24 Oct. 2019 On D-Day, for example, the 101st and 82and Airborne Divisions dropped behind enemy lines to secure bridges and key road junctions that invaders coming over the beach would need to press the attack. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Meet the Army's New Airborne Trucks," 13 Oct. 2019 No westbound traffic will be allowed on the 60 from Ontario to Riverside between the 15 Freeway and the 60/91/215 junction for seven weekends, according to the California Department of Transportation. — Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, "Drive-time drag: Weekend closures on westbound 60 Freeway start Friday, run through mid-November," 27 Sep. 2019 Locals worry the project will pave the way for cell towers, power junctions and additional cable sites. — Andrew Selsky, USA TODAY, "Facebook undersea cable plan not finding fans in tiny Oregon coastal town," 12 Jan. 2020

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.

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First Known Use of junction

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for junction

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

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Time Traveler for junction

Time Traveler

The first known use of junction was in 1711

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Statistics for junction

Last Updated

10 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Junction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junction. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for junction

junction

noun
How to pronounce junction (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of junction

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

See the full definition for junction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

junction

noun
junc·​tion | \ ˈjəŋk-shən How to pronounce junction (audio) \

Kids Definition of junction

1 : a place or point where two or more things meet
2 : an act of joining

junction

noun
junc·​tion | \ ˈjəŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce junction (audio) \

Medical Definition of junction

: a place or point of meeting the structure of the synaptic junction as revealed by electron microscopy — see neuromuscular junction

Other Words from junction

junctional \ -​shnəl, -​shən-​ᵊl How to pronounce junctional (audio) \ adjective

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More from Merriam-Webster on junction

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for junction

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with 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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