1
a
: the main stem of a tree apart from limbs and roots
called also bole
b(1)
: the human or animal body apart from the head, neck, and appendages : torso
(2)
: the thorax of an insect
c
: the central part of anything
specifically
: the shaft of a column or pilaster
2
a(1)
: a large rigid piece of luggage used usually for transporting clothing and personal effects
(2)
: the luggage compartment of an automobile
b(1)
: a superstructure over a ship's hatches usually level with the poop deck
(2)
: the part of the cabin of a boat projecting above the deck
(3)
: the housing for a centerboard or rudder
3
: proboscis
especially
: the long muscular proboscis of the elephant
4
trunks plural
: men's shorts worn chiefly for sports
swimming trunks
5
a
: a usually major channel or passage (such as a chute or shaft)
b
: a circuit between two telephone exchanges for making connections between subscribers
broadly
: a usually electronic path over which information is transmitted (as between computer systems)
6
a
: the principal channel or main body of a system or part that divides into branches
a nerve trunk
the trunk of a river
b
Examples of trunk in a Sentence
the trunk of an artery
threw the rest of her books and tapes in the trunk and closed the lid
Recent Examples on the Web
Wearing the tricolor trunks of his homeland and eager to impress the star guest, French President Emmanuel Macron, Jandard bounced once, twice… before slipping, falling onto his back and tumbling haphazardly into the water.
—
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Derby was located in the trunk dead with her neck and wrists slashed, police said.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
The second-generation example has high-gloss finish that accentuates the vehicle’s clean lines and provides a proper showcase for the period-correct decal across the trunk lid.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
These forests are also ecological substrates for other forms of life —- on Earth, plants, animals of all sorts, fungi and bacteria all live on their bark, shoots, trunks, leaves, roots, flowers, and fruits, says Mendonca.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
This is a great bag for tossing into your suitcase, clipping onto your daypack, or keeping in the trunk of your car.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
Two zones active through Monday morning are in parts of Trinidad in Northeast and Petworth in Northwest, where seven orange signs were taped to light poles and trunks of barren trees at Georgia Avenue and Upshur Street.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The burgeoning new leaves began to encase branches and conceal parts of tree trunks.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Louis Vuitton Reveals Olympic Trunk The beloved French brand has unveiled a custom trunk designed just for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Derby was located in the trunk dead with her neck and wrists slashed, police said.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
The second-generation example has high-gloss finish that accentuates the vehicle’s clean lines and provides a proper showcase for the period-correct decal across the trunk lid.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
These forests are also ecological substrates for other forms of life —- on Earth, plants, animals of all sorts, fungi and bacteria all live on their bark, shoots, trunks, leaves, roots, flowers, and fruits, says Mendonca.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
This is a great bag for tossing into your suitcase, clipping onto your daypack, or keeping in the trunk of your car.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
Two zones active through Monday morning are in parts of Trinidad in Northeast and Petworth in Northwest, where seven orange signs were taped to light poles and trunks of barren trees at Georgia Avenue and Upshur Street.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The burgeoning new leaves began to encase branches and conceal parts of tree trunks.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Louis Vuitton Reveals Olympic Trunk The beloved French brand has unveiled a custom trunk designed just for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trunk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Trunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trunk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trunk
noun1
a
: the main stem of a tree apart from branches or roots
b
: the body of a person or animal apart from the head, arms, and legs : torso
c
: the main or central part of something
trunk of an artery
2
a
: a box or chest for holding clothes or other articles especially for traveling
b
: the enclosed space usually in the rear of an automobile for carrying articles
3
: the long flexible muscular nose of an elephant or a related mammal (as a woolly mammoth)
4
plural
: men's shorts worn chiefly for sports
swimming trunks
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