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

• 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

For the last 15 or so years, celebrities have been, in general, more trussed up, as red carpets have become a heightened economic prospective for stars and designers alike. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025

The Gloss Bridge trussed the look up more with a wet effect gloss, using Gloss Luxe in shade 01 Disclosure. —Marie Bladt, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025

Noun

The winds send stage trusses collapsing in a tangle of steel and spotlights as firefighters race to rescue fans and production crew members trapped. —Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025

Rather than wood framing, Scott is going to use a metal truss system with a foam core, surrounded by concrete. —Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for truss

• bus
• buss
• cuss
• fuss
• glace
• huss
• plus
• pus
• russ
• sus
• suss
• thus

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