garbage

gar-bage · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Waste material; things thrown away as unwanted.

  2. 2.

    (informal) Something worthless or of poor quality.

  3. 3.

    (computing) Invalid or corrupt data.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    garbage in, garbage out — poor input leads to poor output (especially in computing)
  • •
    garbage can/bin — a container for waste
  • •
    garbage disposal — a device for grinding food waste in a sink

Related words

See also: recycling, rubbish, trash, waste
Synonyms: refuse, rubbish, trash, waste

Etymology

From Anglo-French garbelage (the removal of refuse), possibly related to garbeler (to sift).