trunk

/trʌŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /trʌŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrəŋk/ (ame, mw)

trunk — 名詞

  • trunksingular
  • trunksplural

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

1.名詞A2
釋義

樹幹

樹木直立的主莖

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

例句

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

Yael 在花園的楓樹樹幹上刻下了她的名字縮寫。

carved into the trunk

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

那棵老橡樹的樹幹上覆蓋著厚而粗糙的樹皮。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • branch

    grows out from the trunk rather than being the central stem

  • root

    grows underground rather than above ground

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B2
釋義

軀幹

身體中央不含四肢的部分

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

例句

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

醫生請病人在檢查時將軀幹左右轉動。

move his trunk from side to side

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

Diya 的瑜伽老師告訴她在向前彎腰時要保持軀幹挺直。

同義詞
  • torso

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

  • body

    broader term that can include the head and limbs

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞C1
釋義

主幹

血管或神經的主要部分

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

例句

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

外科醫生小心翼翼地避免損傷顏面神經的主幹。

main trunk of the facial nerve

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

肺動脈主幹將缺氧的血液從心臟送往肺部。

用法筆記

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.名詞A2
釋義

象鼻

大象長管狀的鼻子

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

例句

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

大象用牠的象鼻噴水到背上來消暑。

used its trunk to spray water

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

一頭小象用牠的象鼻纏住母親的尾巴，好緊緊跟在旁邊。

wrapped its trunk around

同義詞
  • proboscis

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

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B1
釋義

大皮箱

旅行用的大箱子

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

例句

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

他們在搬家前把所有衣服都裝進一個大木箱裡。

packed into a wooden trunk

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

閣樓裡的那個舊箱子裝滿了信件和黑白照片。

同義詞
  • 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

用法筆記

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.名詞B1
釋義

後車廂

汽車後方的置物空間

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

例句

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

Rin 把購物袋放進藍色轎車的後車廂裡。

put [items] in the trunk

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

Jack 的網球拍和運動袋很容易就放進後車廂。

同義詞
  • boot

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

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B1
釋義

泳褲

男性游泳時穿的下身衣物

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

例句

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

Joaquín 穿上泳褲，跑向游泳池。

put on his swimming trunks

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

這家店有賣海軍藍、黑色和鮮紅色的泳褲。

sells swimming trunks in [colours]

同義詞
  • swim shorts

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

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B2
釋義

四角褲

男性穿的貼身短褲

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

例句

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

這家店販售男性和青少年穿的舒適棉質四角褲。

cotton trunks

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

Aoi 在服飾區買了三件黑色的四角褲。

同義詞
  • briefs

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

  • boxers

    loose-fitting underwear; the opposite fit to trunks

反義詞
  • boxers

    loose-fitting rather than close-fitting underwear

用法筆記

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