trunk

[ truhngk ]

/ trʌŋk /

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. 2021

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

Medical definitions for trunk

trunk

[ trŭngk ]

n.

The body excluding the head and limbs.

The main stem of a blood vessel or nerve apart from the branches.

A large collecting lymphatic vessel.

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trunk

noun

adjective

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Origin of trunk

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British Dictionary definitions for trunk

noun

Derived forms of trunk

Word Origin for trunk

Medical definitions for trunk

n.

MEANINGS

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trunk

noun

adjective

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Origin of trunk

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Words related to trunk

British Dictionary definitions for trunk

noun

Derived forms of trunk

Word Origin for trunk

Medical definitions for trunk

n.