trunks

[trˈʌŋks] /ˈtrəŋk How to pronounce trunk (audio)/ (ame, mw)

trunks — 名詞

1. the thick main wooden stems of trees, from which the branches grow

1.名詞A2
釋義

樹幹

樹木直立的主要木質部分

the thick main wooden stems of trees, from which the branches grow

例句

The storm snapped two large branches off the trunks of the pine trees.

暴風雨把那幾棵松樹樹幹上的兩根大樹枝打斷了。

branches off the trunks

Moss grew in dark green patches along the wet trunks by the stream.

溪邊潮濕的樹幹上長著一片片深綠色的苔蘚。

同義詞
  • stems

    broader word for the main upright parts of plants, especially smaller ones

  • boles

    technical forestry term for the main woody parts of trees

反義詞
  • branches

    grow out from trunks rather than forming the central woody part

  • roots

    grow below the ground instead of above it

用法筆記

Use this plural form when you are talking about more than one tree. Distinguish from 'stems', which is used for smaller plants such as flowers and vegetables.

常見錯誤

❌The sunflower trunks bent in the wind.
✅The sunflower stems bent in the wind.
💡Small plants have stems, not trunks.

2. the main middle parts of people's or animals' bodies, excluding the head, arms,

2.名詞B2
釋義

軀幹

身體中央不含頭與四肢的部分

the main middle parts of people's or animals' bodies, excluding the head, arms, and legs

例句

The dancers kept their trunks straight during the long balance exercise.

那些舞者在長時間的平衡動作中都把軀幹保持筆直。

kept their trunks straight

Seat belts should lie across passengers' trunks, not across their necks.

安全帶應該橫過乘客的軀幹，而不是勒在脖子上。

同義詞
  • torsos

    more common everyday word for the body without the head and limbs

  • bodies

    broader word that can include the whole body, not just the middle part

用法筆記

This is mainly a formal or anatomical word. In everyday conversation, people more often say 'bodies', 'torsos', 'backs', or 'chests', depending on the context.

常見錯誤

❌The children hurt their trunks when they fell.
✅The children hurt their backs when they fell.
💡'Trunks' sounds formal or medical, not natural for everyday injuries.

3. the main sections of nerves or blood vessels before they split into smaller bran

3.名詞C1
釋義

主幹

神經或血管尚未分支的主要部分

the main sections of nerves or blood vessels before they split into smaller branches

例句

The scan showed that both nerve trunks were free from serious damage.

掃描顯示兩條神經主幹都沒有受到嚴重損傷。

both nerve trunks

The surgeon traced the arterial trunks before closing the wound.

外科醫生在縫合傷口前先沿著那些動脈主幹確認走向。

用法筆記

Technical term used in anatomy and medicine. It is usually paired with a modifier such as 'nerve', 'arterial', or 'pulmonary'.

4. the long tube-like noses of elephants, used for breathing, smelling, lifting thi

4.名詞A2
釋義

象鼻

大象細長可彎曲的鼻子

the long tube-like noses of elephants, used for breathing, smelling, lifting things, and spraying water

例句

The elephants lifted the branches with their trunks and carried them away.

那些大象用象鼻抬起樹枝，再把它們搬走。

lifted the branches with their trunks

Mud dripped from the baby elephants' trunks after the river bath.

小象們洗完河水澡後，象鼻上還不停滴著泥水。

同義詞
  • proboscises

    technical zoology word for long flexible noses or mouthparts

用法筆記

Only elephants have trunks. Other animals have noses, snouts, or proboscises instead.

常見錯誤

❌The tapirs raised their trunks to smell the air.
✅The tapirs raised their noses to smell the air.
💡Only elephants have trunks.

5. large strong boxes used for storing or carrying clothes and other personal thing

5.名詞B1
釋義

大皮箱

用來收納或搬運物品的大箱子

large strong boxes used for storing or carrying clothes and other personal things

例句

Old travel trunks stood in a row along the wall of the museum.

博物館牆邊整齊排著一列老式旅行大皮箱。

travel trunks

They found family letters inside the trunks in the attic.

他們在閣樓裡那些大皮箱中找到了家族信件。

同義詞
  • chests

    similar large storage boxes, but not always meant for travel

  • suitcases

    more modern travel bags, usually lighter and easier to carry

用法筆記

This sense often refers to older-style travel or storage boxes. In modern travel, people more often use suitcases.

6. covered storage spaces in cars where bags and other items are kept, usually behi

6.名詞B1
釋義

後車廂

汽車後方用來放東西的空間

covered storage spaces in cars where bags and other items are kept, usually behind the seats

例句

Both trunks were full of camping gear before the weekend drive.

出發週末旅行前，兩個後車廂都塞滿了露營裝備。

trunks were full of camping gear

The rental cars have large trunks for suitcases and folding strollers.

那些租賃車的後車廂很大，放得下行李箱和摺疊推車。

同義詞
  • boots

    British English word for the same storage spaces in cars

用法筆記

This is the American term. In British English, the same part of a car is called the 'boot'.

常見錯誤

❌The bicycles have trunks for school bags.
✅The bicycles have baskets for school bags.
💡'Trunks' are parts of cars, not bicycles.

7. short trousers worn by men or boys for swimming, usually made of light quick-dry

7.名詞B1
釋義

泳褲

男性或男孩游泳時穿的短褲

short trousers worn by men or boys for swimming, usually made of light quick-drying material

例句

Michael changed into his trunks before diving into the hotel pool.

Michael 在跳進飯店泳池前先換上了泳褲。

changed into his trunks

The shop sells striped trunks beside the children's beach towels.

那家店把條紋泳褲擺在兒童海灘毛巾旁邊販售。

同義詞
  • swim shorts

    broader term that can include longer or looser styles

用法筆記

Always plural, even for one item. 'A pair of trunks' is the usual way to refer to one garment, and pool or beach context usually makes this swimming sense clear.

常見錯誤

❌He bought a new trunk for the pool.
✅He bought a new pair of trunks for the pool.
💡This clothing word is plural.

8. close-fitting men's underwear with short legs, between briefs and boxers in shap

8.名詞B2
釋義

四角褲

貼身且有短褲管的男用內褲

close-fitting men's underwear with short legs, between briefs and boxers in shape

例句

Christopher bought cotton trunks in a pack of three at the mall.

Christopher 在百貨公司買了一包三件的棉質四角褲。

cotton trunks

These trunks have a soft waistband and flat seams inside.

這款四角褲有柔軟的腰帶和內側平整的接縫。

同義詞
  • briefs

    similar close-fitting underwear, but usually with shorter sides and no legs

  • boxers

    looser underwear with a baggier fit

反義詞
  • boxers

    looser and less fitted than trunks

用法筆記

This sense is also always plural. It refers to short, close-fitting underwear, not swimwear, and it is often contrasted with briefs or boxers.

常見錯誤

❌He wore trunks into the sea.
✅He wore swimming trunks into the sea.
💡Plain 'trunks' can also mean underwear, so add 'swimming' when the water sense matters.