Definition

1. Noun:

   • A bed, especially a simple or narrow one, often built in tiers: A bunk is a type of bed, typically one of two or more fixed beds arranged one above the other, commonly found on ships, trains, in dormitories, or at campsites.
   • (Informal) Nonsense; false or ridiculous talk or ideas: Used to describe statements or ideas that are considered untrue, silly, or meaningless.
   • (British, informal) An act of running away; a quick departure: The act of leaving a place suddenly and secretly to avoid something.

2. Verb:

   • To sleep in a bunk or simple bed: To use a bunk as a place to sleep.
   • (Informal) To run away; to leave hastily: To flee or escape from a place, often to avoid trouble or responsibility.
   • (Informal) To avoid something, such as a duty or payment: To evade or skip something one is supposed to do.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Bed):
  • The cabin had two sets of bunks to sleep four people.
  • He climbed up to the top bunk.
• Noun (Nonsense):
  • His explanation was complete bunk; don't believe a word of it.
  • That's a lot of bunk about health benefits.
• Noun (Act of running away):
  • He did a bunk before the police arrived.
• Verb (To sleep):
  • We bunked in a small hostel for the night.
  • I'll bunk on the sofa if there's no spare bed.
• Verb (To run away):
  • When they saw the teacher coming, they bunked out the back door.
  • The suspect bunked from the scene of the crime.

Advanced Usage

• "to bunk off" (British, informal): To stay away from school, work, or a duty without permission; to play truant.
  • He decided to bunk off school and go to the park instead.
• "bunk beds": A piece of furniture consisting of two beds, one above the other.
  • The children share a room with bunk beds.

Variants and Related Words

• Bunkum (noun): Another word for nonsense or empty talk, from which the informal meaning of "bunk" is derived.
  • His speech was pure political bunkum.
• Bunkhouse (noun): A building with sleeping accommodations for workers, such as on a ranch or at a camp.
  • The farmhands slept in the bunkhouse.

Synonyms

• For "bed" meaning: Berth, cot, bedstead.
• For "nonsense" meaning: Baloney, rubbish, hogwash, drivel, poppycock.
• For "run away" meaning: Flee, escape, abscond, skedaddle.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bunk down: To go to bed or settle down to sleep, especially in a temporary or makeshift arrangement.
  • We found a barn to bunk down in for the night.
• Bunk up (with someone): To share a bed or sleeping space with someone.
  • Can I bunk up with you? There's only one bed.

Related Idioms

• "That's a bunch of bunk": A common phrase meaning "that is complete nonsense."
  • His promises are just a bunch of bunk.

Noun

1. beds built one above the other
2. a message that seems to convey no meaning
3. unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements)
4. a rough bed (as at a campsite)
5. a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers
6. a long trough for feeding cattle

Verb

1. flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
   • If you see this man, run!
   • The burglars escaped before the police showed up
2. provide with a bunk
   • We bunked the children upstairs
3. avoid paying
   • beat the subway fare