trunk

[truhngk]

noun

1. the main stem of a tree, as distinct from the branches and roots.

2. a large, sturdy box or chest for holding or transporting clothes, personal effects, or other articles.

3. a large compartment, usually in the rear of an automobile, in which luggage, a spare tire, and other articles may be kept.

4. the body of a person or an animal excluding the head and limbs; torso.

5. Ichthyology.,  the part of a fish between the head and the anus.

6. Architecture.

   1. the shaft of a column.

   2. the dado or die of a pedestal.

7. the main channel, artery, or line in a river, railroad, highway, canal, or other tributary system.

8. Telephony, Telegraphy.

   1. a telephone line or channel between two central offices or switching devices that is used in providing telephone connections between subscribers generally.

   2. a telegraph line or channel between two main or central offices.

9. Anatomy.,  the main body of an artery, nerve, or the like, as distinct from its branches.

10. trunks,

    1. brief shorts, loose-fitting or tight, worn by men chiefly for boxing, swimming, and track.

    2. Obsolete.,  trunk hose.

11. the long, flexible, cylindrical nasal appendage of the elephant.

12. Nautical.

    1. a large enclosed passage through the decks or bulkheads of a vessel, for cooling, ventilation, or the like.

    2. any of various watertight casings in a vessel, as the vertical one above the slot for a centerboard in the bottom of a boat.

13. a conduit; shaft; chute.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or noting a main channel or line, as of a railroad or river.

trunk

/ trʌŋk /

noun

1. the main stem of a tree, usually thick and upright, covered with bark and having branches at some distance from the ground

2. a large strong case or box used to contain clothes and other personal effects when travelling and for storage

3. anatomy the body excluding the head, neck, and limbs; torso

4. the elongated prehensile nasal part of an elephant; proboscis

5. Also called: boot. an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear

6. anatomy the main stem of a nerve, blood vessel, etc

7. nautical a watertight boxlike cover within a vessel with its top above the waterline, such as one used to enclose a centreboard

8. an enclosed duct or passageway for ventilation, etc

9. (modifier) of or relating to a main road, railway, etc, in a network

   a trunk line

Other Word Forms

• trunkful noun
• trunkless adjective
• subtrunk noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trunk¹

1400–50; late Middle English trunke < Latin truncus stem, trunk, stump, noun use of truncus lopped

Word History and Origins

Origin of trunk¹

C15: from Old French tronc , from Latin truncus , from truncus (adj) lopped

Example Sentences

Now Historic England experts have narrowed the minimum age range down by counting the tree's rings in a cross-section of trunk, with the wood considered to be in "good condition".

From BBC

Several investigations have been launched after a Spanish man in Kenya posted videos of himself pouring beer down an elephant's trunk - sparking anger on social media.

From BBC

“They don’t want the trunk ripped off in order for them to steal what’s in there, in the back,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Nine works, including a rhino mounting a car, two elephants with their trunks stretched towards each other, and three monkeys swinging on a bridge, appeared over nine days in August 2024.

From BBC

Their deaths were another statistic in the grim history of Scotland's longest trunk road.

From BBC

Related Words

• bag 
• chest 
• coffin 
• crate 
• locker 
• luggage 
• suitcase