truck

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a wheeled vehicle for moving heavy articles: such as
a
: a strong horse-drawn or automotive vehicle (such as a pickup) for hauling
b
: an automotive vehicle with a short chassis equipped with a swivel for attaching a trailer and used especially for the highway hauling of freight
also : a truck with attached trailer
c
: a small barrow consisting of a rectangular frame having at one end a pair of handles and at the other end a pair of small heavy wheels and a projecting edge to slide under a load

called also hand truck

d
: a small heavy rectangular frame supported on four wheels for moving heavy objects
e
: a small flat-topped car pushed or pulled by hand
f
: a shelved stand mounted on casters
2
a
British : an open railroad freight car
b
: a swiveling carriage consisting of a frame with one or more pairs of wheels and springs to carry and guide one end (as of a railroad car) in turning sharp curves
3
: a small wheel
specifically : a small strong wheel for a gun carriage
4
: a small wooden cap at the top of a flagstaff or masthead usually having holes for reeving flag or signal halyards
truckful noun

truck

2 of 4

verb (1)

trucked; trucking; trucks

transitive verb

: to load or transport on a truck

intransitive verb

1
: to roll along especially in an easy untroubled way
2
: to transport goods by truck
3
: to be employed in driving a truck

truck

3 of 4

verb (2)

trucked; trucking; trucks

transitive verb

1
: to give in exchange : swap
2
: to barter or dispose of by barter

intransitive verb

1
: to exchange commodities : barter
2
: to negotiate or traffic especially in an underhanded way : have dealings

truck

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
: barter
2
: commodities appropriate for barter or for small trade
3
: close association or connection
will have no truck with crooks
4
: payment of wages in goods instead of cash
5
: vegetables grown for market
6
: heterogeneous small articles often of little value
also : rubbish

Examples of truck in a Sentence

Noun (2) in medieval Europe, furs and forest products from the north were sold in truck for luxury products from the south filled a dozen large garbage bags with all the truck we collected when we cleaned the place out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
As an environmentalist, I’m turned off by my boyfriend’s love of ATVs, dirt bikes, and his giant diesel truck. Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024 Then Alexis called Diamond, who jumped in his truck and got to the house as the ambulance doors closed. Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
Four plays later Mahomes trucked rookie safety Malike Mustapha, one of the 49ers’ hardest hitters, for the touchdown run. Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Durant hit a 3-pointer at the same time Nikola Jokić trucked Anthony Davis. John Hollinger, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for truck 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably back-formation from truckle small wheel — more at truckle bed

Verb (2)

Middle English trukken, from Anglo-French *truker, *troker, from Vulgar Latin *troccare, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb (1)

1748, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of truck was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near truck

Cite this Entry

“Truck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truck. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

truck

1 of 3 noun
1
2
: goods for barter or for small trade
3
: close association
have no truck with such people
4
: vegetables grown for market
5
a
: small articles of little value
b

truck

2 of 3 noun
: a wheeled vehicle for moving heavy articles

truck

3 of 3 verb
: to transport on or by truck
Etymology

Noun

from earlier truck (verb) "to exchange goods, swap," from Middle English trukken (same meaning), from early French troquer (same meaning)

Noun

from truck "a small wheel," from truckle "small wheel, pulley," from Middle English trokell "caster, wheel," from Latin trochlea "block of pulleys"

More from Merriam-Webster on truck

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