Truss

UK: /ˈtrʌs/ US: /trʌs/ ,(trus)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Truss / trʌs/ noun

1. Mary Elizabeth, known as Liz. born 1975, British Conservative politician; foreign secretary (2021–22); leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister for 49 days in 2022

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

truss /trʌs/   v. 

1. to fasten, as with rope: [~ + object (+ up)]
   The kidnappers had trussed him (up) and left him to die.
   [~ (+ up) + object]
   to truss (up) the prisoners.
2. to fasten with skewers, thread, or the like, as the wings and legs of a chicken before cooking: [~ (+ up) + object]
   to truss (up) a chicken.
   [~ + object (+ up)]
   to truss the chicken (up).

n. [countable]

3. Civil Engineering a structural frame that functions as a beam to support bridges, roofs, etc.
4. Medicine a pad supported by a belt for supporting muscles affected by a hernia:
   He wore a truss until his hernia healed.

See -tort-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

truss  (trus), v.t. 

1. to tie, bind, or fasten.
2. to make fast with skewers, thread, or the like, as the wings or legs of a fowl in preparation for cooking.
3. Building to furnish or support with a truss or trusses.
4. to tie or secure (the body) closely or tightly;
   bind (often fol. by up).
5. Sport [Falconry.] (of a hawk, falcon, etc.) to grasp (prey) firmly.

n. 

6. Building, Civil Engineering [Civ. Engin., Building Trades.]
   • Civil Engineering any of various structural frames based on the geometric rigidity of the triangle and composed of straight members subject only to longitudinal compression, tension, or both: functions as a beam or cantilever to support bridges, roofs, etc. Cf. complete (def. 8), incomplete (def. 3), redundant (def. 5c).
   • Civil Engineering any of various structural frames constructed on principles other than the geometric rigidity of the triangle or deriving stability from other factors, as the rigidity of joints, the abutment of masonry, or the stiffness of beams.
7. Medicine an apparatus consisting of a pad usually supported by a belt for maintaining a hernia in a reduced state.
8. Botany [Hort.] a compact terminal cluster or head of flowers growing upon one stalk.
9. Nautical, Naval Terms a device for supporting a standing yard, having a pivot permitting the yard to swing horizontally when braced.
10. a collection of things tied together or packed in a receptacle;
    bundle;
    pack.
11. Agriculture, British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a bundle of hay or straw, esp. one containing about 56 lb. (25.4 kg) of old hay, 60 lb. (27.2 kg) of new hay, or 36 lb. (16.3 kg) of straw.

• Old French trousse, torse, derivative of torser
• Vulgar Latin *torsāre, derivative of *torsus, for Latin tortus past participle of torquere to twist, wind, wrap; (noun, nominal) Middle English: bundle
• Old French tr(o)usser, variant of torser, probably
• (verb, verbal) Middle English trussen 1175–1225

truss′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

truss / trʌs/ verb (transitive)

1. (sometimes followed by up) to tie, bind, or bundle
2. to fasten or bind the wings and legs of (a fowl) before cooking to keep them in place
3. to support or stiffen (a roof, bridge, etc) with structural members
4. to supply or support with a truss

noun

1. a structural framework of wood or metal, esp one arranged in triangles, used to support a roof, bridge, etc
2. a device for holding a hernia in place, typically consisting of a pad held in position by a belt
3. a cluster of flowers or fruit growing at the end of a single stalk
4. a metal fitting fixed to a yard at its centre for holding it to a mast while allowing movement
5. another name for corbel
6. a bundle or pack
7. a bundle of hay or straw, esp one having a fixed weight of 36, 56, or 60 pounds

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French trousse, from trousser, apparently from Vulgar Latin torciāre (unattested), from torca (unattested) a bundle, torch