junction
junction — noun
1. any point at which roads, railway lines, footpaths, or waterways connect or cros
any point at which roads, railway lines, footpaths, or waterways connect or cross, letting people or vehicles move from one route to another.
Turn left at the next junction and you will see the petrol station.
imperative direction: turn left at [the] junction
David missed the turning because the road sign near the junction was hidden by trees.
The train slowed down as it entered the railway junction outside Manchester.
There is a bus stop at the junction of Main Street and Park Road.
The dangerous junction on the highway was rebuilt with new traffic lights.
- crossroads
specifically the point where two roads cross at the same level; less formal than 'junction'
- intersection
more common in American English for places where roads cross each other
- interchange
a large junction where roads are connected by a system of slip roads, typical of motorways
文法句型
at the junction (of…)
the junction between…and…
用法筆記
In American English, 'intersection' is more common for roads that cross; 'junction' is still used for railway lines and highway interchanges.
常見錯誤
2. within a closed wiring system, a spot where conductors meet and the electric cur
within a closed wiring system, a spot where conductors meet and the electric current can branch into separate routes or gather from multiple paths.
The electrician checked every junction in the circuit for loose connections.
collocation: junction in [the] circuit
Camila traced the wires back to the central junction to find the broken connection.
A loose wire at the junction caused the kitchen lights to flicker all evening.
The junction box behind the wall panel holds all the main cable connections.
- node
more technical, used in circuit theory and network analysis; 'junction' is the practical, physical term
- connection point
a more general phrase that learners may recognise; less precise than 'junction' in electronics
文法句型
at the junction
junction in [a circuit]
用法筆記
Frequently used in compound nouns such as 'junction box' (an enclosure that protects electrical connections) and 'solder junction' (a connection made with melted metal).
常見錯誤
3. in human or animal anatomy, any site where two hollow structures — such as ducts
in human or animal anatomy, any site where two hollow structures — such as ducts, vessels, or tubes — meet or merge.
The scan showed a blockage at the junction of the bile duct and the pancreas.
pattern: at the junction of [organ] and [organ]
The doctor said the pain was at the junction of the spine and the pelvis.
Inflammation at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach can cause a burning feeling.
The neuromuscular junction is where nerve signals travel to muscle fibres to trigger movement.
- connection
a broader, less technical term that can work in lay descriptions; lacks the anatomical precision of 'junction'
- suture
specifically refers to a seam-like junction between bones of the skull; much narrower in meaning
文法句型
at the junction of [body part] and [body part]
用法筆記
Mostly appears in medical or biological writing. Compound terms like 'neuromuscular junction' (nerve-to-muscle connection) and 'gap junction' (a channel between cells) are standard in their fields.
4. the act, process, or state of two or more things coming together or being connec
the act, process, or state of two or more things coming together or being connected to form a single unit or place of meeting.
The junction of the two rivers created a wide, slow-moving stream.
pattern: the junction of [river A] and [river B]
The junction of art and technology often produces exciting new forms of design.
Historians study the junction of different cultures along ancient trade routes.
The new bridge marks the junction between the two halves of the city.
- union
emphasises the result of joining into a single whole, rather than the point of meeting
- confluence
more poetic and specific to rivers or streams of people/ideas; a higher register than 'junction'
- meeting point
a simpler, everyday phrase that can replace this abstract sense in most contexts
- separation
the opposite state — things being apart rather than joined
文法句型
the junction of [X] and [Y]
the junction between [X] and [Y]
用法筆記
This abstract sense is more common in formal writing and descriptive prose than in everyday conversation. It often describes the meeting of ideas, cultures, or historical forces.
常見錯誤
5. a physical object, device, or fitting that connects two separate things — such a
a physical object, device, or fitting that connects two separate things — such as pipes, cables, or sections of track — so that they form a continuous system.
A brass junction connects the old copper pipe to the new plastic one.
collocation: brass junction / between [pipe A] and [pipe B]
Adaeze bought a plastic junction for joining two garden hoses together.
A flexible rubber junction connects the washing machine hose to the wall tap.
The junction between two railway tracks must be perfectly aligned for a smooth ride.
- connector
the most common everyday word for a device that joins things; 'junction' is more technical and structural
- coupling
specifically a device for joining two parts of a pipe, hose, or railway carriage; more precise for mechanical contexts
- joint
a general word for where two parts connect, but can also mean a movable hinge rather than a fixed connector
文法句型
a junction between [X] and [Y]
a junction for [doing something]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (a place where roads or rails meet) — this sense refers to the physical fitting or device that does the connecting, not the location. It overlaps with 'connector' and 'coupling'.