trunk

noun

ˈtrəŋk

Synonyms of trunk next

: 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

: the central part of anything

specifically : the shaft of a column or pilaster

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

: proboscis

especially : the long muscular proboscis of the elephant

trunks plural : men's shorts worn chiefly for sports

swimming trunks

: a usually major channel or passage (such as a chute or shaft)

: 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)

: the principal channel or main body of a system or part that divides into branches

a nerve trunk

the trunk of a river

: trunk line

trunkful

ˈtrənk-ˌfu̇l

noun

Example Sentences

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 This story begins with concerned neighbors and ends with a man found dead in the trunk of his car five days later at a Houston Police Department impound lot. —

Brianna Griff, Chron, 9 Feb. 2023 The trunk could also be roomier, considering those who can afford the Quattroporte's starting price aren't likely to pack light. —

Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 18 Jan. 2023 Andrea Zebron said the front trunk is watertight and clean. —

Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 18 Jan. 2023 But if the trunk is straight and the tree only recently began to curve, it might be cause for concern. —

Samantha Chery, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 The trunk is long, and offered more than enough storage for my fiancée and I to travel to her parents for Christmas. —

Christian De Looper, BGR, 10 Jan. 2022 First reported in 1956, the classic and most common form of stiff-person syndrome is characterized by painful and fluctuating stiffness, mostly in the muscles of the trunk, including the back and abdomen and upper legs. —

Bhavana Patel, The Conversation, 21 Dec. 2022 Meaning that while the tree is alive, the fungus is actively decaying the roots and the heartwood in the lower portion of the trunk. —

oregonlive, 18 Dec. 2022 Cargo capacity is increased compared with the old model and the rear seats fold flat; the cargo floor is now flush with that of the sill, which should make sliding bulkier items in and out of the trunk easier. —

Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 13 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trunk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.