trunk

[ truhngk ]

/ trʌŋk /

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See synonyms for: trunk / trunks on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

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

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

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

Architecture.

the shaft of a column.
the dado or die of a pedestal.

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

Telephony, Telegraphy.

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

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

trunks,

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

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

Nautical.

a large enclosed passage through the decks or bulkheads of a vessel, for cooling, ventilation, or the like.
any of various watertight casings in a vessel, as the vertical one above the slot for a centerboard in the bottom of a boat.

a conduit; shaft; chute.

adjective

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

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Origin of trunk

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

OTHER WORDS FROM trunk

trunkless, adjectivesubtrunk, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for trunk

trunk

/ (trʌŋk) /

noun

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

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

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

the elongated prehensile nasal part of an elephant; proboscis

Also called: (Brit, Austral., NZ, and South African) boot US and Canadian an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear

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

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

an enclosed duct or passageway for ventilation, etc

(modifier) of or relating to a main road, railway, etc, in a networka trunk line

Derived forms of trunk

trunkful, nountrunkless, adjective

Word Origin for trunk

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

trunk

Origin of trunk

OTHER WORDS FROM trunk

Words related to trunk

British Dictionary definitions for trunk

Derived forms of trunk

Word Origin for trunk