trunk

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The thick central stem of a tree, below the branches and above the roots.

   Grammar: Countable: a tree has one trunk, but a forest has many trunks.

   Patterns

   • the trunk of a tree
   • a tree trunk
   • a thick trunk

   The trunk of the old oak is wider than my arms can reach.

   Someone had carved their initials into the tree trunk.

   The trunk was hollow, so the children hid inside it.

2. 2nouncountable

   The long, flexible nose of an elephant, used for breathing, smelling, and picking things up.

   Grammar: Countable; usually used with 'its' or 'an elephant's' because it belongs to a specific animal.

   Patterns

   • an elephant's trunk
   • use its trunk
   • raise its trunk

   The elephant picked up the peanut with its trunk.

   A baby elephant learns to control its trunk by splashing water.

   She watched the elephant raise its trunk and trumpet loudly.

3. 3nouncountableAmerican

   The covered storage space at the back of a car.

   Grammar: Countable; in British English the usual word is 'boot'.

   Patterns

   • in the trunk
   • open the trunk
   • put something in the trunk

   We put our suitcases in the trunk and drove to the airport.

   The trunk was full, so I carried the box on my lap.

   He opened the trunk to get the spare tire.

4. 4nouncountableold-fashioned

   A large, strong box with a lid, used for storing or carrying clothes and other belongings.

   Grammar: Countable; often used for old-fashioned travel or storage.

   Patterns

   • pack a trunk
   • a wooden trunk
   • in a trunk

   She kept her grandmother's letters in an old wooden trunk.

   The trunk was too heavy for one person to lift.

   He packed a trunk for the long sea voyage.

5. 5nouncountablemedicalformal

   The main body of a person or animal, not including the head, arms, and legs.

   Grammar: Countable; in this sense it is mostly used in medical or formal descriptions.

   Patterns

   • the trunk of the body
   • trunk muscles
   • keep the trunk straight

   The disease affects the trunk and limbs.

   Rowing strengthens the muscles of the trunk.

   Keep your trunk still while you move your arms.

Word forms

Common combinations

tree trunk

The tree trunk was covered in moss.

elephant's trunk

The elephant's trunk curled around the branch.

car trunk

Put the groceries in the car trunk.

trunk road

The trunk road connects the two cities.

trunk line

The trunk line carries most of the phone traffic.

Synonyms and how they differ

stem

Use 'stem' for a thin or small plant part; 'trunk' is for the thick main stem of a tree.

boot

British English for the storage space at the back of a car; American English uses 'trunk'.

chest

A chest is a strong box for storage, often with a flat lid; a trunk is usually larger and used for travel.

Word family

trunks noun

Shorts worn for swimming or boxing; also the plural of trunk.

trunkless adjective

Rare; describing something without a trunk.

Commonly confused: trunk or trunks?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “trunk”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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