| / English Dictionary |
RUBBISH
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Nonsensical talk or writing
Synonyms:
applesauce; codswallop; folderol; rubbish; trash; tripe; trumpery; wish-wash
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("rubbish" is a kind of...):
drivel; garbage (a worthless message)
Domain usage:
argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Worthless material that is to be disposed of
Synonyms:
rubbish; scrap; trash
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("rubbish" is a kind of...):
waste; waste material; waste matter; waste product (any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rubbish"):
scrap metal (discarded metal suitable for reprocessing)
debris; detritus; dust; junk; rubble (the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up)
litter (rubbish carelessly dropped or left about (especially in public places))
Derivation:
rubbishy (cheap and inferior; of no value)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Attack strongly
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "rubbish" is one way to...):
assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Context examples:
And the king, when he is highest provoked, and most determined to press a city to rubbish, orders the island to descend with great gentleness, out of a pretence of tenderness to his people, but, indeed, for fear of breaking the adamantine bottom; in which case, it is the opinion of all their philosophers, that the loadstone could no longer hold it up, and the whole mass would fall to the ground.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
I hate tea and silk and spices, and every sort of rubbish his old ships bring, and I don't care how soon they go to the bottom when I own them.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
"Well, if that isn't the greatest rubbish I ever heard," cried Jo indignantly.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I shall see and hear new things, get new ideas, and even if I haven't much time there, I shall bring home quantities of material for my rubbish.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
She took to writing sensation stories, for in those dark ages, even all-perfect America read rubbish.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
As long as The Spread Eagle paid her a dollar a column for her 'rubbish', as she called it, Jo felt herself a woman of means, and spun her little romances diligently.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
She did earn several that year, and began to feel herself a power in the house, for by the magic of a pen, her 'rubbish' turned into comforts for them all.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
"I guess not. Don't care if I do. Serve me right, selfish pig, to let you go, and stay writing rubbish myself!" muttered Jo, as she went to consult Hannah.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Laurie's a nice boy and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
We can't meddle safely in such matters, and had better not get 'romantic rubbish' as you call it, into our heads, lest it spoil our friendship.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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