trunk-line
Definition
- Noun:
- Main railway line: "trunk-line" refers to the principal route of a railway system, connecting major cities or regions and handling the majority of long-distance traffic.
- Main telephone line: In telecommunications, a "trunk-line" is a primary telephone line connecting exchanges in different areas, used for long-distance calls.
Usage Examples
- Railway context:
- The trunk-line between London and Edinburgh carries most of the freight and passenger trains. (The main railway route connecting two major cities.)
- Telecommunications context:
- The company installed a new trunk-line to improve call quality between the capital and rural areas. (A primary telephone line for inter-city communication.)
Advanced Usage
"trunk-line service": a service operating on the main route of a transport or communication network.
- The trunk-line service runs hourly during peak times. (The main route service has frequent departures.)
"trunk-line network": the core infrastructure of a system, such as railways or phone lines.
- Upgrading the trunk-line network is essential for modernizing the country's transport system. (The central part of the network.)
Variants and Related Words
Trunk (n): the main stem of a tree, or by extension, the main part of something.
- The trunk of the railway system is heavily used. (The main route.)
Line (n): a route or connection in transport or communication.
- This line branches off from the trunk-line. (A secondary route from the main one.)
Synonyms
- Main line: the principal route in a railway or telephone system.
- Artery: a major route for transport or communication (often used metaphorically).
- This highway is a trunk-line for the region. (A vital transport artery.)
Related Idioms
- "the trunk-line of the economy": the main sector or activity that drives economic growth.
- Manufacturing is often considered the trunk-line of the national economy. (The primary economic driver.)