trunk

noun

ˈtrəŋk 

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

: trunk line

trunkful

ˈtrənk-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Synonyms

• bin
• locker
• box
• chest

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

During an outing with Travis Kelce on June 28, Swift paired a flouncy white and pink houndstooth Balmain dress and nude Christian Louboutin sandals with a small nude trunk bag. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 June 2025

The house’s history is on display, with some of the trunks dating back to the 1850s. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2025

The goal is to remove all but three or four strong branches spaced evenly around the trunk. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

To water a new tree slowly, lay a hose turned to just a slow trickle near the trunk and leave it there for an hour or so. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trunke Anglo-French trunc, trunke, from Latin truncus trunk, torso

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing trunk

• nerve trunk
• Saratoga trunk
• steamer trunk
• trunk call
• trunk hose
• trunk line
• trunk road

Rhymes for trunk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

Video

Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"

Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk

Kids Definition

trunk

noun

ˈtrəŋk 

1

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

Medical Definition

trunk

noun

ˈtrəŋk 

1

: the human body apart from the head and appendages : torso

2

: the main body of an anatomical part (as a nerve or blood vessel) that divides into branches