truck

¹

[ truhk ]

noun

1. any of various forms of vehicle for carrying goods and materials, usually consisting of a single self-propelled unit but also often composed of a trailer vehicle hauled by a tractor unit.
2. any of various wheeled frames used for transporting heavy objects.
3. Also called hand truck. a barrowlike frame with low wheels, a ledge at the bottom, and handles at the top, used to move heavy luggage, packages, cartons, etc.
4. a low, rectangular frame on which heavy boxes, crates, trunks, etc., are moved; a dolly.
5. a tiered framework on casters.
6. a group of two or more pairs of wheels in one frame, for supporting one end of a railroad car, locomotive, etc.
7. Movies. a dolly on which a camera is mounted.
8. British. a freight car having no top.
9. a small wooden wheel, cylinder, or roller, as on certain old-style gun carriages.
10. Nautical. a circular or square piece of wood fixed on the head of a mast or the top of a flagstaff, usually containing small holes for signal halyards.

verb (used with object)

1. to transport by truck.
2. to put on a truck.
3. Movies. dolly ( def 11 ).

verb (used without object)

1. to convey articles or goods on a truck.
2. to drive a truck.
3. Movies. dolly ( def 12 ).

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for a truck or trucks:

   a truck drive; truck tires.

truck

²

[ truhk ]

noun

1. vegetables raised for the market.
2. miscellaneous articles of little worth; odds and ends.
3. Informal. trash or rubbish:

   That's a lot of truck.

4. Informal. dealings:

   I'll have no truck with him.

5. barter.
6. a bargain or deal.
7. the payment of wages in goods instead of money.
8. truck system.

verb (used with object)

1. to exchange; barter; trade.

verb (used without object)

1. to exchange commodities; barter.
2. to traffic; have dealings.

truck

³

[ truhk ]

noun

1. a shuffling jitterbug step.

verb (used without object)

1. to dance with such steps.
2. Slang. to walk or stroll, especially in a jaunty manner:

   trucking down the avenue on a Sunday afternoon.

truck

¹

/ trʌk /

noun

1. a vehicle for carrying freight on a railway; wagon
2. a large motor vehicle designed to carry heavy loads, esp one with a flat platform Also called (esp in Britain)lorry
3. a frame carrying two or more pairs of wheels and usually springs and brakes, attached under an end of a railway coach, etc
4. nautical
   1. a disc-shaped block fixed to the head of a mast having sheave holes for receiving signal halyards
   2. the head of a mast itself
5. any wheeled vehicle used to move goods

verb

1. to convey (goods) in a truck
2. intr to drive a truck

truck

²

/ trʌk /

noun

1. commercial goods
2. dealings (esp in the phrase have no truck with )
3. commercial exchange
4. archaic.
   payment of wages in kind
5. miscellaneous articles
6. informal.
   rubbish
7. vegetables grown for market

verb

1. archaic.
   to exchange (goods); barter
2. intr to traffic or negotiate

Other Words From

• trucka·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truck¹

First recorded in 1605–15; back formation from truckle “wheel”; truckle

Origin of truck²

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English truken, trukien “to exchange,” from Old French troquer, trochier “to exchange” and Medieval Latin trocāre “to barter”; further origin unknown

Origin of truck³

First recorded in 1935–40; special use of truck ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of truck¹

C17: perhaps shortened from truckle ²

Origin of truck²

C13: from Old French troquer (unattested) to barter, equivalent to Medieval Latin trocare , of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see have no truck with .

Example Sentences

The truck, including gas, cost around $1,000.

From Salon

We hired movers in New York to help us unload the truck; their services cost $550.

From Salon

Mr Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London in September 2023 by clinging to the underside of a food delivery truck using a makeshift sling.

From BBC

“Could you get a pick-up truck over it? No.”

From BBC

“They unload the pack horses and a pick-up truck meets them at our road: we’ve motorized the smuggling business.”

From BBC