juntas

Juntas is a Spanish noun with several related meanings, depending on context. In everyday usage, la junta refers to a meeting or assembly of people, such as a council, committee, or board. The plural juntas can denote multiple meetings or multiple bodies, as in la junta directiva (the board of directors) or la junta escolar (the school board). In political history, the term is used to describe a governing body formed by a group, often military officers, after a crisis, known as a military junta.

In technical contexts, junta also denotes a join or seal used to connect parts in mechanical systems. A gasket is called una junta in Spanish, and assemblies use juntas to prevent leakage. Common terms include junta tórica (O-ring) and junta de culata (cylinder head gasket). Thus, the plural juntas can refer to several seals or to different joint interfaces within equipment.

Etymologically, the word derives from the Spanish verb juntar, meaning to join or unite, with senses that reflect both the act of joining and the groups formed by joining. Geographic or institutional names may also incorporate Juntas, reflecting the broader use of the term. See also Junta for related terms and disambiguation.