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truck 1 (trŭk)
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n.
1. Any of various heavy motor vehicles designed for carrying or pulling loads.
2. A hand truck.
3.
a. A wheeled platform, sometimes equipped with a motor, for conveying loads in a warehouse or freight yard.
b. A set of bookshelves mounted on four wheels or casters, used in libraries.
4.
a. One of the swiveling frames of wheels under each end of a railroad car or trolley car.
b. Either of the frames housing a pair of wheels on a skateboard or landboard.
5. Nautical A small piece of wood placed at the top of a mast or flagpole, usually having holes through which halyards can be passed.
6. Chiefly British A railroad freight car without a top.
v. trucked, truck·ing, trucks
v.tr.
To transport by truck.
v.intr.
1. To carry goods by truck.
2. To drive a truck.
3. Slang To move or travel in a steady but easy manner.
[Short for TRUCKLE or from Latin trochus, iron hoop (from Greek trokhos, wheel).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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