trunk

trunk — noun

1. a tree's main upright section, made of solid wood, from which all its branches g

1.nounA2
Definition

a tree's main upright section, made of solid wood, from which all its branches grow outward

Example

Yael carved her initials into the trunk of the maple tree in the garden.

carved into the trunk

The trunk of the old oak tree was covered in thick, rough bark.

Common collocations
  • tree trunk
  • thick trunk
  • hollow trunk
  • trunk of a tree
  • bark on the trunk
Synonyms
  • stem

    broader term that applies to any upright plant part; 'stem' is correct for small plants

  • bole

    technical term for the main timber part of a tree; less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • branch

    grows out from the trunk rather than being the central stem

  • root

    grows underground rather than above ground

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'stem': 'trunk' refers specifically to large, woody trees, while 'stem' is used for smaller plants like flowers or vegetables.

Common Mistakes

The trunk of the sunflower was very thin.
The stem of the sunflower was very thin.
Only large, woody trees have trunks; small plants have stems.

2. the large middle portion of a human frame, running from the neck down to the hip

2.nounB2
Definition

the large middle portion of a human frame, running from the neck down to the hips, not counting the head, arms, or legs

Example

The doctor asked the patient to move his trunk from side to side during the check-up.

move his trunk from side to side

Diya's yoga teacher told her to keep her trunk straight while bending forward.

Common collocations
  • human trunk
  • trunk muscles
  • upper trunk
  • trunk of the body
Synonyms
  • torso

    more common in everyday English for the body without head and limbs

  • body

    broader term that can include the head and limbs

Usage Note

More common in formal, medical, or anatomical writing. In everyday conversation, 'torso' or simply 'body' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

She hurt her trunk when she fell off her bike.
She hurt her back when she fell off her bike.
'Trunk' is mostly used in medical or formal contexts; for everyday injuries, use 'back', 'chest', or 'body' instead.

3. the unbranched starting section of an anatomical structure like a nerve or major

3.nounC1
Definition

the unbranched starting section of an anatomical structure like a nerve or major blood passage, from which smaller offshoots branch out to reach various body areas

Example

The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the main trunk of the facial nerve.

main trunk of the facial nerve

The pulmonary trunk carries deoxygenated blood from the heart toward the lungs.

Common collocations
  • nerve trunk
  • arterial trunk
  • pulmonary trunk
  • main trunk
  • trunk of the artery

Usage Note

Technical term used in anatomy and medicine. Always paired with a modifier specifying the vessel or nerve type, such as 'pulmonary trunk', 'nerve trunk', or 'arterial trunk'.

4. the long, flexible snout of an elephant, used for breathing, smelling, grasping

4.nounA2
Definition

the long, flexible snout of an elephant, used for breathing, smelling, grasping objects, drinking, and making sounds

Example

The elephant used its trunk to spray water over its back on the hot day.

used its trunk to spray water

A young elephant wrapped its trunk around its mother's tail to stay close.

wrapped its trunk around

Common collocations
  • elephant's trunk
  • long trunk
  • tip of the trunk
  • trunk of an elephant
Synonyms
  • proboscis

    technical zoology term for a long flexible snout; rarely used in everyday speech

Usage Note

Only used for elephants. Other animals have 'snouts', 'noses', or 'proboscises' — never 'trunks'.

Common Mistakes

The seal balanced a ball on its trunk.
The seal balanced a ball on its nose.
Only elephants have trunks; seals have snouts or noses.

5. a roomy, robust chest typically made of wood or metal, having a hinged cover, me

5.nounB1
Definition

a roomy, robust chest typically made of wood or metal, having a hinged cover, meant for keeping or moving personal possessions

Example

They packed all their clothes into a large wooden trunk before the move.

packed into a wooden trunk

The old trunk in the attic was full of letters and black-and-white photographs.

Common collocations
  • wooden trunk
  • metal trunk
  • pack a trunk
  • treasure trunk
  • storage trunk
Synonyms
  • chest

    similar large storage box, often made of wood, but not necessarily designed for travel

  • suitcase

    smaller, designed for personal travel with handles and wheels

Usage Note

Less common in modern travel, where wheeled suitcases have largely replaced traditional trunks for transport.

6. the rear storage area inside a car, separate from the passenger seats, where ite

6.nounB1
Definition

the rear storage area inside a car, separate from the passenger seats, where items such as bags, shopping, and tools are kept

Example

Rin put the shopping bags in the trunk of the blue sedan.

put [items] in the trunk

Jack's tennis rackets and sports bag fit easily into the trunk.

Common collocations
  • car trunk
  • trunk space
  • open the trunk
  • in the trunk
  • trunk lid
Synonyms
  • boot

    British English term for the same compartment at the back of a car

Usage Note

Called the 'boot' in British English. Not used for motorcycles, bicycles, or most two-wheeled vehicles.

Common Mistakes

I put the groceries in the trunk of my motorcycle.
I put the groceries in the basket of my motorcycle.
Motorcycles and scooters do not have trunks; the British equivalent 'boot' also does not apply.

7. short trousers worn by males for swimming, designed to cover the hips and upper

7.nounB1
Definition

short trousers worn by males for swimming, designed to cover the hips and upper legs, typically made of quick-drying fabric

Example

Joaquín put on his swimming trunks and ran toward the pool.

put on his swimming trunks

The shop sells swimming trunks in navy blue, black, and bright red.

sells swimming trunks in [colours]

Common collocations
  • swimming trunks
  • pair of trunks
  • wear trunks
  • swim trunks
  • trunks
Synonyms
  • swim shorts

    more general term that can include longer board shorts; less specific than 'trunks'

Usage Note

Always plural ('trunks' or 'swimming trunks') even for a single garment. 'Swim trunks' is also common in American English. A 'pair of swimming trunks' is the standard way to refer to one item.

Common Mistakes

He bought a new swimming trunk at the store.
He bought a new pair of swimming trunks at the store.
'Swimming trunks' is always plural, like 'pants' or 'shorts'.

8. close-fitting underwear worn by men, covering the hips and upper thighs, shorter

8.nounB2
Definition

close-fitting underwear worn by men, covering the hips and upper thighs, shorter and tighter than boxer shorts

Example

The store sells comfortable cotton trunks for men and teenage boys.

cotton trunks

Aoi bought three pairs of black trunks from the clothing section.

Common collocations
  • cotton trunks
  • pair of trunks
  • trunks underwear
Synonyms
  • briefs

    similar close-fitting underwear but typically shorter and with a different cut

  • boxers

    loose-fitting underwear; the opposite fit to trunks

Antonyms
  • boxers

    loose-fitting rather than close-fitting underwear

Usage Note

Always plural ('trunks'). Less common than 'boxers' or 'briefs' for everyday reference. 'Trunks' are shorter and fit more closely than boxers.

Word family

  • truncate
    verbC1
  • truncated
    adjectiveC1
  • truncation
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Trunk, stem, branch, and root describe different parts of a plant. Trunk refers specifically to the thick, woody main stem of a large tree — the upright central part from which branches grow outward. Stem is a broader term that applies to the main upright part of any plant, including small flowers and vegetables; a rose bush has stems, not a trunk. Branch refers to a part that grows from the trunk or from another branch, typically smaller and often bearing leaves or fruit. Root grows underground and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil. In everyday language, trunk suggests size and woodiness, while stem is more general. For example: 'The trunk of the old oak was wide and sturdy, while its branches stretched out over the pond.' Or: 'The stem of the tulip broke in the wind, but the trunk of the nearby cherry tree stood firm.'

trunk ↗stem ↗branch ↗root ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • tree trunk
  • car trunk
  • trunk space
  • trunk lid

Phrases

  • pack a trunk
  • open the trunk
  • close the trunk

Prepositions

  • in the trunk
  • into the trunk
  • out of the trunk
  • trunk of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'trunk' comes from Latin 'truncus', meaning 'a tree trunk' or 'something cut off or mutilated' — which is also the source of the word 'truncate'. It passed into English through Old French 'tronc'. The sense of a tree's main stem was the original meaning. By the 15th century, 'trunk' was also used for the human body without the head and limbs. The elephant's nose sense appeared in the 16th century, and the storage box sense in the 18th century. The car storage space meaning arose in the early 20th century with the rise of automobiles.