junction

[juhngk-shuhn]

noun

1. an act of joining; combining.

2. the state of being joined; union.

3. a place or point where two or more things are joined, as a seam or joint.

   Synonyms: welt, coupling, linkage, union

4. a place or point where two or more things meet or converge.

5. a place or station where railroad lines meet, cross, or diverge.

6. an intersection of streets, highways, or roads.

7. something that joins other things together.

   He used the device as a junction between the branch circuit and the main power lines.

   Synonyms: connection

junction

/ ˈdʒʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. a place where several routes, lines, or roads meet, link, or cross each other

   a railway junction

2. a point on a motorway where traffic may leave or join it

3. electronics

   1. a contact between two different metals or other materials

      a thermocouple junction

   2. a transition region between regions of differing electrical properties in a semiconductor

      a p-n junction

4. a connection between two or more conductors or sections of transmission lines

5. the act of joining or the state of being joined

Other Word Forms

• junctional adjective
• interjunction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of junction¹

First recorded in 1705–15; from Latin junctiōn- (stem of junctiō ), equivalent to junct(us), past participle of jungere “to join” ( jung- join + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of junction¹

C18: from Latin junctiō a joining, from junctus joined, from jungere to join

Synonym Study

Junction, juncture refer to a place, line, or point at which two or more things join. A junction is also a place where things come together: the junction of two rivers. A juncture is a line or point at which two bodies are joined, or a point of exigency or crisis in time: the juncture of the head and neck; a critical juncture in a struggle.

Example Sentences

Of the driving experience you get from an eHGV, Liam tells me he enjoys appreciates the "instant torque" helping him to pull away at junctions.

From BBC

A new junction on the A421 is planned, complete with slip roads to direct traffic to and from the park.

From BBC

The extra-large box stretched along a busy junction frequently used by buses, lorries and cars.

From BBC

Drivers can often be seen driving at excessive speeds to overtake lines of slower-moving vehicles, and at certain junctions cars have to turn right across traffic coming the other way.

From BBC

He initially went too fast in the city's Springburn area and passed a car on the wrong side of the road before going on to the M8 at junction 15.

From BBC

Related Words

• confluence 
• crossing 
• intersection 
• juncture 
• terminal