body and trunk share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. body means “the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)”. trunk means “the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber”. body is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbɑdi/
1.n.the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
“he felt as if his whole body were on fire”
2.n.a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity
“the whole body filed out of the auditorium”
3.n.a natural object consisting of a dead animal or person
“they found the body in the lake”
| body | trunk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɑdi/ | /ˈtɹʌŋk/ |
| Said | BAH-dee | truhngk |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun |
| Senses | 12 | 5 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | organic structure | tree trunk, bole |
Full entry for body · Full entry for trunk · More comparisons
/ˈtɹʌŋk/
1.n.the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
2.n.luggage consisting of a large strong case used when traveling or for storage
3.n.the body excluding the head and neck and limbs
“they moved their arms and legs and bodies”