WordGarden.iotrash
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /trˈæʃ/
US
- /ˈtræʃ/
Meanings
Noun
discarded waste or garbage
something considered worthless, useless, or very poor in quality
an offensive insult for a person regarded as contemptible or worthless
Verb
to throw away or delete as unwanted
to criticize, reject, or speak badly about someone or something
to damage, wreck, or make a mess of a place or thing
Beyond the definition
"Trash" is most often the everyday word for things people throw away, like food wrappers, broken toys, or old papers. But it also has a sharper side. People use it for something they think is very low in quality, and in phrases like "talking trash," it means speaking in an insulting or boastful way. As a verb, "to trash" can also mean to wreck something, throw it away, or criticize it very harshly.
The word "trash" most commonly refers to waste material: things we no longer want or need and throw away. This can mean household garbage, like food scraps and packaging ("Please take out the trash!"), or larger unwanted items like broken furniture and old appliances. It is a practical, everyday word for things headed to the bin, the dump, or sometimes recycling.
However, "trash" also has strong figurative uses. If someone calls a movie, book, TV show, or idea "trash," they mean it is very bad, cheap, or not worth respect. If they call a person "trash," it is a harsh insult. You will also hear the phrase "talking trash," especially in sports or arguments, for rude or boastful speech meant to mock or provoke someone.
As a verb, "trash" can mean to damage or ruin something badly ("The hotel room was trashed"), to throw something away, or to criticize something very strongly in speech or writing. These meanings all connect to the same core idea: treating something as if it has little value.
So, whether you are talking about an overflowing bin, a rude exchange, something of poor quality, or something that has been badly damaged, "trash" points to the idea of something unwanted, low in value, or treated with little respect.
Examples
- 1
Household chore
Please take out the trash before it starts to smell.
- 2
Public litter
There was trash all over the beach after the holiday weekend.
- 3
Computer files
I deleted the file, but it was still in the trash on my laptop.
- Domain
in computing, the trash is where deleted files go before they are removed completely
- 4
Property damage
The guests trashed the hotel room after the party.
- Patterntrash + place/object
make it very messy or badly damage it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Reviews
Several critics trashed the movie in their reviews.
- Patterntrash + work/product
say it is very bad
- 6
Sports taunting
The two players were talking trash before the game.
- Phrasetalk trash
say rude or insulting things to provoke someone
- 7
Informal judgment
I tried that app for a week, and honestly, it's trash.
- Usage
informal: trash can mean very bad or useless
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- trashnounverb
Forms
- trashedpast tenseverbnoun
- trashing-ing formverbnoun
- trashesverbnoun