trunk
gb/tɹˈʌŋk/ us/tɹˈʌŋk/
A2
English
~ 5800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
storage space at back of car
The closed space at the back of a car where you can put bags and other things.
Usage pattern:
put [something] in the trunk
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "trunk" (US English) and "boot" (UK English). In American English, say "in the trunk of the car"; in British English, say "in the boot of the car." Some learners also say *"the back of the car"* when they mean the closed storage area; use "trunk" or "boot" instead when you mean the specific compartment.
Synonyms
boot (British English word for the same part of a car; not usually used in American English.)
Antonyms
passenger compartment (Refers to the part of the car where people sit, contrasting with the back area used for storage.)
Collocations
open the trunk
|pop the trunk
|car trunk
|in the trunk
|trunk space
|pack the trunk
Themes
transportation
|daily life
|travel
|daily_life
Examples
- She put the groceries in the trunk and closed it firmly.
- The police found a spare tire in the trunk of the car.
- He popped the trunk so the mechanic could check the tools.
- We didn’t have enough trunk space for all the suitcases.
- There’s an emergency kit in the trunk if you need it.
Learner examples
- He put his bag in the trunk.
- The trunk is full of suitcases.
- Please open the trunk, I need my jacket.
- There is a spare wheel in the trunk.
- We packed the car and closed the trunk.
Noun
A2
entity
2
main stem of a tree
The big main part of a tree that goes up from the ground and holds the branches.
Usage pattern:
the trunk of [a tree]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call the main part of a tree a "stem" or "stick." For trees, use "trunk" for the main thick part and "branch" for the parts that grow out from it.
Synonyms
stem (A more general word for the main part of a plant; "trunk" is used especially for trees and is thicker and woodier.)
Antonyms
branch (A branch grows out from the trunk, contrasting with the central main stem.)
Collocations
tree trunk
|thick trunk
|hollow trunk
|base of the trunk
|climb the trunk
|the trunk of the tree
Themes
nature
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The tree trunk was so wide that three people could not reach around it.
- Carvings on the old trunk showed dates from a hundred years ago.
- The child tried to climb the smooth trunk but kept slipping down.
- Moss was growing all the way up the north side of the trunk.
- The storm snapped the trunk in half near the base.
Learner examples
- The boy sat on a fallen tree trunk.
- This tree has a very thick trunk.
- A bird made a home in a hole in the trunk.
- He leaned his back against the trunk of the tree.
- We tied the rope to the tree trunk.
Noun
B2
entity
3
central body, torso
The middle part of the body, not including the head, arms, or legs.
Usage pattern:
[something] on the trunk
Common mistake:
Learners often know the word "torso" but not "trunk" for this meaning. Also, some confuse it with the "trunk" of a car or tree. If the context is about the human body, "trunk" means the middle part of the body.
Synonyms
torso (Very close in meaning; "torso" is slightly more formal and common in anatomy and art, while "trunk" is more technical/medical or descriptive.)
Antonyms
limbs (Refers to the arms and legs, which are specifically not part of the trunk.)
Collocations
upper trunk
|lower trunk
|trunk muscles
|trunk injury
|rotation of the trunk
|bare trunk
Themes
body
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The doctor examined the patient’s trunk for any signs of bruising.
- These exercises focus on strengthening the muscles of the trunk.
- The statue shows only the head and trunk of the ancient king.
- The athlete twisted his trunk sharply and felt a sudden pain.
- The seat belt should go across the chest and trunk, not the neck.
Learner examples
- The trunk connects the head and the legs.
- He has strong muscles in his trunk.
- The belt goes around the trunk of the body.
- The doctor saw a red rash on her trunk.
- They moved their trunks from side to side in the exercise class.
Noun
B2
entity
4
large box for storage/travel
A big, heavy box with a lid, used to keep or move clothes and other personal things.
Usage pattern:
pack [something] in a trunk
Common mistake:
Some learners think of only the car part when they hear "trunk" and may misunderstand stories that mention an "old trunk" in a house. In stories, especially about the past, "trunk" often means a large box for storage or travel, not the back of a car.
Synonyms
chest (Very similar, but "trunk" often suggests something larger and more travel-related, while "chest" is more general furniture for storage.)
Antonyms
suitcase (A smaller, lighter piece of luggage, contrasting with a large, heavy trunk.)
Collocations
wooden trunk
|old steamer trunk
|pack a trunk
|storage trunk
|open the trunk
|a trunk at the foot of the bed
Themes
home
|travel
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- She kept her grandmother’s letters in an old trunk in the attic.
- They packed all their belongings into a single steamer trunk for the voyage.
- He opened the trunk at the foot of the bed and pulled out a blanket.
- The antique shop had a beautiful leather trunk for sale.
- Dust rose into the air as they lifted the lid of the trunk.
Learner examples
- They put their clothes in a big trunk for the trip.
- There is an old trunk in the attic.
- He opened the trunk and found many books inside.
- My grandmother keeps photos in a wooden trunk.
- The trunk is very heavy, so two people must carry it.
Noun
A2
entity
5
elephant’s long flexible nose
The very long nose of an elephant that it uses to breathe, smell, take food, and move things.
Usage pattern:
elephant’s trunk
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with other meanings of "trunk" (car, tree, box). When the subject is an elephant or a picture of an elephant, "trunk" almost always means its long nose.
Synonyms
proboscis (A technical term for a long, tube-like nose, used mostly in scientific or formal language; "trunk" is the normal everyday word for an elephant.)
Antonyms
tail (Another long extremity of the animal’s body at the opposite end, sometimes contrasted with the trunk in descriptions.)
Collocations
elephant’s trunk
|long trunk
|raise its trunk
|curl its trunk
|swinging trunk
|trunk full of water
Themes
animals
|nature
Examples
- The elephant lifted its trunk and sprayed water over its back.
- A baby elephant held its mother’s tail with its trunk as they walked.
- She drew an elephant with its trunk wrapped around a tree branch.
- The elephant used its trunk to pick up the small fruit.
- When it smelled danger, the elephant raised its trunk high in the air.
Learner examples
- The elephant drinks water with its trunk.
- An elephant has a long trunk and big ears.
- The animal used its trunk to pick up food.
- The baby elephant played with its trunk.
- The elephant moved its trunk from side to side.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
6
main central route or channel
The main road, line, or tube in a system, from which smaller parts go out.
Usage pattern:
the trunk of [a system]
Common mistake:
Learners may see "trunk road" or "trunk line" and think of the car part or a tree. In these phrases, "trunk" means the main route or main line in a system, not a container or body part.
Synonyms
main line (Often used for transport or communication systems; emphasizes importance, while "trunk" emphasizes the central line from which others branch.)
Antonyms
branch line (A smaller route or line that comes off the central trunk, contrasting with the main route.)
Collocations
trunk road
|trunk line
|trunk route
|trunk network
|trunk cable
Themes
transportation
|science
|technology
Examples
- Heavy trucks are only allowed on the main trunk road between the two cities.
- The company upgraded its international trunk lines to increase internet capacity.
- Engineers designed the trunk cable to carry most of the network’s data traffic.
- The new highway will act as a trunk route for goods moving to the port.
- In anatomy, the pulmonary trunk carries blood from the heart to the lungs.
Learner examples
- This highway is the main trunk road in the country.
- All small roads join the trunk road near the city.
- A trunk line carries many phone calls at one time.
- Small branch lines connect to the trunk line.
- The trunk cable is the main part of the network.
Grammar
Expressions
swim trunks
1/swˈɪm tɹˈʌŋks/
fixed phrase
men’s swimming shorts
Short pants that men or boys wear for swimming.
Examples
- He packed a towel and a pair of swim trunks for the beach.
- You must wear proper swim trunks if you want to enter the pool.
trunk call
1/tɹˈʌŋk kˈɔl/
fixed phrase
formal
long-distance telephone call
A long-distance telephone call between different cities or areas, especially in older British and Indian English use.
Examples
- In those days you had to book a trunk call through the operator.
- He made a trunk call to his family in another city.
trunk line
1/tɹˈʌŋk lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
main line in a network
A main telephone, internet, or transport line that connects important places in a network.
Examples
- The phone company installed a new trunk line to handle international calls.
- All local exchanges connect to the central trunk line in the city.
trunk road
1/tɹˈʌŋk ɹˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
major road between towns or cities
A main road that connects big towns or cities and carries a lot of traffic.
Examples
- The accident happened on the busy trunk road leading to the capital.
- Most heavy trucks use the trunk road instead of the smaller village streets.
trunk show
1/tɹˈʌŋk ʃˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
temporary designer sales event
A special event, often in a store or hotel, where a designer shows and sells their products directly to customers for a short time.
Examples
- The boutique is hosting a trunk show for a local jewelry designer this weekend.
- She bought her wedding dress at a trunk show where the designer was present.