truss

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrəs 

trussed; trussing; trusses

transitive verb

1

a

: to secure tightly : bind

b

: to arrange for cooking by binding close the wings or legs of (a fowl)

2

: to support, strengthen, or stiffen by or as if by a truss

trusser noun

truss

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an assemblage of members (such as beams) forming a rigid framework

b

: bracket sense 1

2

: a device worn to reduce a hernia by pressure

3

: an iron band around a lower mast with an attachment by which a yard is secured to the mast

4

: a compact flower or fruit cluster

Synonyms

Verb

• band
• bind
• tie

Examples of truss in a Sentence

Verb

She stuffed and trussed the duck.

after stuffing the turkey, the chef quickly trussed it so the forcemeat wouldn't fall out during roasting

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In their center, Zoya drew Gorey-esque little boys, one trussed in rope, the other naked and chubby like a Renaissance putto. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024

The idea is to share the floating supports between a whole lot of small, relatively lightweight turbines, trussed up in enormous arrays of structural scaffolding, distributing both the weight of the turbine fans and generators, as well as the force supplied by the wind, across a broad area. —New Atlas, 23 July 2024

Noun

Once done checking out, customers can walk through one of the three exit trusses, an increase from the usual two, to help exiting the store remain a quick process. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024

The developers did in fact take innovative steps to limit harm to plants and animals, such as leaving some native vegetation in place and installing steel trusses of different heights to match the ground’s natural contours, rather than leveling all the land flat. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English to pack, load, bind, from Anglo-French trusser, trousser, from Vulgar Latin *torsare, from *torsus twisted — more at torsade

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing truss

• truss bridge

Kids Definition

truss

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrəs 

1

a

: to tie up tightly : bind

b

: to tie the wings or legs of for cooking

truss a turkey

2

: to support, strengthen, or stiffen by a truss

truss

2 of 2 noun

1

: a rigid framework of beams, bars, or rods

a truss for a roof

2

: a device worn to hold a hernia in place

Medical Definition

truss

noun

ˈtrəs 

: a device worn to reduce a hernia by pressure