Dictionary:

truss

  (trŭs)

1. Medicine. A supportive device, usually a pad with a belt, worn to prevent enlargement of a hernia or the return of a reduced hernia.
2. 1. A rigid framework, as of wooden beams or metal bars, designed to support a structure, such as a roof.
   2. Architecture. A bracket.
3. Something gathered into a bundle; a pack.
4. Nautical. An iron fitting by which a lower yard is secured to a mast.
5. Botany. A compact cluster of flowers at the end of a stalk.

1. To tie up or bind tightly.
2. To bind or skewer the wings or legs of (a fowl) before cooking.
3. To support or brace with a truss.

[Middle English trusse, bundle, from Old French trousse, from torser, trousser, to truss, possibly from Vulgar Latin *torsāre, from *torsus, variant of Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre, to twist.]

An assemblage of structural members joined at their ends to form a stable structural assembly. If all members lie in one plane, the truss is called a planar truss or a plane truss. If the members are located in three dimensions, the truss is called a space truss.

A plane truss is used like a beam, particularly for bridge and roof construction. A plane truss can support only weight or loads contained in the same plane as that containing the truss. A space truss is used like a plate or slab, particularly for long span roofs where the plan shape is square or rectangular, and is most efficient when the aspect ratio (the ratio of the length and width) does not vary above 1.5. A space truss can support weight and loads in any direction.

Because a truss can be made deeper than a beam with solid web and yet not weigh more, it is more economical for long spans and heavy loads, even though it costs more to fabricate. See also Bridge; Roof construction.

The simplest truss is a triangle composed of three bars with ends pinned together. If small changes in the lengths of the bars are neglected, the relative positions of the joints do not change when loads are applied in the plane of the triangle at the apexes.

Multiple-span plane trusses (defined as statically indeterminate or redundant) and space trusses require very complex and tedious hand calculations. Modern high-speed digital computers and readily available computer programs greatly facilitate the structural analysis and design of these structures. See also Computer; Structural analysis.

To secure poultry or other food (usually meat) with string, pins or skewers so the food maintains a compact shape during cooking.

n. a heavy metal ring securing the lower yards to a mast.

tie up (someone) with their arms at their sides: I found him trussed up in his closet.

trusser n.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

(click to enlarge)
A truss's outer members are called the chords, its interior members are called the web members, and … (credit: © Merriam-Webster Inc.)

In building construction, a structural frame usually fabricated from pieces of metal or timber to form a series of triangles lying in a single plane. The linear members are subject only to compression or tension. The horizontal pieces forming the top and bottom of the truss are called the chords, and the sloping and vertical pieces connecting the chords are collectively called the web. Unlike a vault, the truss exerts no thrust but only downward pressure; supporting walls require no buttressing or extra thickening. Trusses have been used extensively in roofing and bridges. Wood trusses were probably first used in primitive dwellings c. 2500 BC. Wood was replaced by iron, which in turn was succeeded by steel.

For more information on truss, visit Britannica.com.

A structure composed of a combination of members (such as chords, 1, diagonals, and web members), usually in some triangular arrangement so as to constitute a rigid framework. See king-post truss, plated truss, queen-post truss, Vierendeel truss; also see bowstring beam.

truss

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - knippe, bundt, brokbind, spærfag, klase
v. tr. - støtte, afstive, binde sammen

idioms:

• truss up    binde (armene ind til kroppen)

Nederlands (Dutch)
knevelen, breukband

Français (French)
n. - botte (de foin), (Méd) bandage herniaire, (Constr) armature ferme
v. tr. - brider, trousser (un poulet), ligoter (qn), botteler (du foin), (Constr) armer

idioms:

• truss up    brider, trousser (un poulet), ligoter (qn), botteler (du foin)

Deutsch (German)
v. - fesseln, dressieren, stützen
n. - Gebälk, Bruchband, Bündel, (Blüten)büschel, (mar.) Rack

idioms:

• truss up    fesseln, dressieren

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ενισχύω με ζευκτό ή αντηρίδα, περιδένω, περιζώνω
n. - δεσμός, δικτυωτός στήριγμα, δεμάτι (σταχυών), χειρόβολο, (αρχιτ.) (τριγωνικό) ζευκτό, δοκός ενίσχυσης (γέφυρας κ.λπ.), αντιστήριγμα, (ιατρ.) κηλεπίδεσμος, ζώνη

idioms:

• truss up    δένω σαν κοτόπουλο (με τα χέρια στα πλάγια)

Italiano (Italian)
legare

idioms:

• truss up    legare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - amarrar, atar
n. - molho (m), feixe (m), farda de palha (m)

idioms:

• truss up    amarrar

Русский (Russian)
укреплять, скреплять

idioms:

• truss up    связывать скручивать

Español (Spanish)
n. - armazón o armadura de sostén, combinación de vigasmodillón, farseto, grupo terminal y apretado de flores
v. tr. - atar, apuntalar, sujetar con brocheta

idioms:

• truss up    ajustar, apretar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - förstärka, armera, staga, stötta, binda
n. - fackverk, taklag, takstol, stötta, konsol (byggn.), bunt, packe, knippa, (tät) klase, rack (sjö)

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
捆, 束, 扎, 缚, 用构架支撑, 把翅膀和脚扎紧

idioms:

• truss up    捆绑一个罪犯

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 捆, 束
v. tr. - 紮, 縛, 捆, 用構架支撐, 把翅膀和腳紮緊

idioms:

• truss up    捆綁一個罪犯

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 다발, 꾸러미, 곤포
v. tr. - 다발 짓다, 단정하게 조여 입다

idioms:

• truss up    묶어 매다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - トラス, 脱腸帯, 束
v. - 縛る, 束ねる, トラスで支える

idioms:

• truss up    縛り付ける

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يقيد, يوثق, يحزم (الاسم) حزمه قش, حزام ألفتق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮שלד תומך, חגורת-שבר, מתמך, אגודת קש, צרור, חבילה‬
v. tr. - ‮קשר, אגד, צרר, עקד (צלי), כפת, תמך (גג)‬

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