trunktrunk /trʌŋk/ ●●● S3 noun [countable] 
tree the thick central woody stem of a tree: 
He left his bicycle leaning against a tree trunk.trunk of the trunk of an old oak tree2car American English the part at the back of a car where you can put bags, tools etc SYN boot British English: Put your suitcase in the trunk.3elephant the very long nose of an elephant4clothes swim trunks American English, swimming trunks British English [plural] a piece of clothing like very short trousers, worn by men for swimming5box a very large box made of wood or metal, in which clothes, books etc are stored or packed for travel6body technical the main part of your body, not including your head, arms, or legs SYN torso → suitcase
WORD ORIGINtrunk
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French tronc ‘box, main part of a body’, from Latin truncus ‘tree-trunk, main part of a body’EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- As the phrase suggests, a main trunk of cables splits off into branches which supply individual subscribers.
- Barbara Molland had found the box in a trunk that stood under the window in Kate's room.
- His powerful trunk and huge belly filled the chair and the yellow cattleman's boots were laced half way up the stout legs.
- Now, this tree is aberrant in that it has two trunks.
- One wanted me to open the trunk.
- Parked on his trunk, Mitchell finished reading the Miami HemId; both the crowd and his optimism began to thin out.
- She knelt by the trunk, flinging aside papers, reaching down and down, scrabbling in the corners.
- She stepped on the emergency brake and got out to help Paul get his suitcase in the trunk.
WORD SETS
aardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He left his bicycle leaning against a tree trunk.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1 He left his bicycle leaning against a tree trunk.· There were no features, save mounds below the snow, and the black of trunks.· But the trees were tall firs, dripping wet with dank bracken underneath among the black trunks.· They all wore caps and goggles and black trunks and Nutty couldn't tell who was who.· She puts her arms gingerly and tenderly round an inscrutable black trunk.
· Now let us see how the branches grow from the main trunk; at what angle do they grow from the trunk?· It also explains why it is virtually certain that Britain's main trunk lines will rely on optical fibre.· It involves cutting down the main trunk to encourage new growth from the edge of the stump.· As the phrase suggests, a main trunk of cables splits off into branches which supply individual subscribers.· In a switched-star system, only main trunk lines need handle the full range of signals, to and from subscribers.· By 1926 there were nine bus routes, although trams still operated all the main trunk routes.
· As the oldest trunks fall over, they are replaced by new shoots which appear continually around the base of the tree.· We are sinewy, old wood, old trunks with fading limbs and few leaves!· Just find an old trunk, sit down and listen.· I got dressed and went into the barn and looked for the old wooden trunk near the rear entrance.· It was an old tin steamer trunk, its corners reinforced with iron shoes.· So far as possible she hid things, in a cupboard, under her bed, in an old trunk under the stairs.
· His swimming trunks had a name-tape sewn to the waistband: J. Rossiter.
NOUN· It is really the public video trunk call office.
· It also explains why it is virtually certain that Britain's main trunk lines will rely on optical fibre.· A mystery phone number turned out to be a White House trunk line.· Twenty-five trunk lines went into Chicago and most of them had attendant freight and passenger depots.· Sewer line: Replacement for trunk line from Napa Street to state Route 163.· Despite the cost, Telecom is now irrevocably committed to optical fibres in all its new telephone speech and data trunk lines.· The most efficient way to heat a house is to give each register its own supply duct directly off the trunk lines.· In a star network, trunk lines carry all the signals to switching points which route selected services to individual subscribers.· If turns have to be made in the trunk lines, they should have a smooth radius.
· It also explains why it is virtually certain that Britain's main trunk lines will rely on optical fibre.· The most efficient way to heat a house is to give each register its own supply duct directly off the trunk lines.· Twenty-five trunk lines went into Chicago and most of them had attendant freight and passenger depots.· If turns have to be made in the trunk lines, they should have a smooth radius.· Despite the cost, Telecom is now irrevocably committed to optical fibres in all its new telephone speech and data trunk lines.· In a star network, trunk lines carry all the signals to switching points which route selected services to individual subscribers.· The trunk lines called for stations of all sizes from small lean-to flag stations to large city termini.· Also it is more difficult to provide interactive services because the trunk lines become cluttered with return signals from each branch.
· The school is situated half way between Maidstone and Ashford on the A20 trunk road.· By 1676 it was part of the main Oxford to Coventry road and of course remains as a major trunk road today.· Yet, on minor roads as well as trunk roads, studies find that standards are declining.· It enables continued good progress on the A74 and further improvements to the M8 and other trunk roads and local roads.· Why not a cost-benefit analysis of trunk roads?· Patching the cracks and filling in the potholes falls to the County Council everywhere except trunk roads and motorways.· Some 40 new ones will be opened by 1995 on trunk road alone.· This completes the link between the A8 and the A1 trunk roads.
· Operations should be run by a highly centralized unitary body which would provide services on the trunk routes of the world.· By 1926 there were nine bus routes, although trams still operated all the main trunk routes.
· My possessions were a suitcase full of clothes and a steamer trunk full of books.· He died en route to Los Angeles, locked in a steamer trunk.· It was an old tin steamer trunk, its corners reinforced with iron shoes.· So crack open those musty steamer trunks.· The wealthy girl had every model of Ginny doll and steamer trunks full of clothes for them.· He had brought them to the hospital in a steamer trunk.
· Did I mention, I discovered a dozen rolls of the original wallpaper in a tin trunk in the attic?· Bread is baked every day in a tin trunk and all food is cooked over an open fire.· An enormous tin trunk was brought down from the attic, and systematically packed with everything needed for a month's holiday.· Keeps them in a tin trunk in his pillbox.
· He was lounging back against the tree trunk a few yards away, consulting his compass and studying the map intently.· Hiding in the swamp, Sammler lay under a tree trunk, in the mud, under scum.· Forty feet away was a nest box fixed to a tree trunk at a height of 8 feet above the ground.· And the tree trunks to black.· Although they do not need it to fight they are usually armed with a big club made from a tree trunk.· A mourning cloak butterfly flew up from a tree trunk in the sunshine where it was basking.· I thought the great central arch of two tree trunks looked like our Blessed Lord's arms holding up the whole Church.· Gao Yang screamed, too, and banged his head against the tree trunk.
VERB· I found them in a trunk in the attic.· We found all boxes, trunks, cabinets, drawers, some even too small for a baby to hide in.· Just find an old trunk, sit down and listen.· And in one case, three teen-age girls were found unconscious in a trunk and rushed to a local hospital.· In one of the rooms we found trunks of clothes.· When Jean-Claude took over the space for his piano, he found himself lugging the trunk into the light.
· It would be like opening the trunk and the wedding-dress not being there.· One wanted me to open the trunk.· Pulling over, Henry throws open the trunk to reveal the blood-spattered body of a rival mafioso.· I offered to open the trunk.· Some 40 new ones will be opened by 1995 on trunk road alone.· The other day for example, at a neighborhood market, I saw a woman carrying grocery bags open her car trunk.· I opened the trunk again, and Mike and Penny put their bags in.
· No need to pack trunks this time.· But so did much of what had been packed into that massive trunk.
tree the thick central woody stem of a tree: He left his bicycle leaning against a tree trunk.trunk of the trunk of an old oak tree2car American English the part at the back of a car where you can put bags, tools etc SYN boot British English: Put your suitcase in the trunk.3elephant the very long nose of an elephant4clothes swim trunks American English, swimming trunks British English [plural] a piece of clothing like very short trousers, worn by men for swimming5box a very large box made of wood or metal, in which clothes, books etc are stored or packed for travel6body technical the main part of your body, not including your head, arms, or legs SYN torso → suitcase