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
trunkful noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stowaways often get crushed when the landing gear retracts, as there’s not much room; in many aircraft, the space is even smaller than the trunk of a car. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025 Shane took his car keys and wallet, opened the trunk of Stefan’s Lincoln, lifted Stefan under the arms and dragged him to the lip of the trunk, then stuffed him in. John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025 His ability to bounce back after getting shoved into car trunks and having his neck used as an ashtray lends the show’s violence a cartoonish quality. Judy Berman, Time, 23 Sep. 2025 Hernandez’s body was discovered in the trunk of D4vd’s car after the vehicle had been left unattended for an extended period of time in Los Angeles. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trunk

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of trunk was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trunk. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

trunk

noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on trunk

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