truk

Truk is a term with several distinct meanings in different contexts. In geography and history, Truk Lagoon refers to the Chuuk Lagoon, a large atoll in the central Pacific that forms part of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia. The name Truk was used by European explorers and in World War II-era accounts and maps. Today the local name Chuuk is generally preferred, but the historical name Truk remains common in older literature. The lagoon comprises numerous small islands surrounding a deep central body of water and is a site of administrative activity and local communities.

The area is also renowned for its extensive World War II shipwrecks. The wrecks in Truk Lagoon, often called the Truk Fleet or Truk Lagoon wrecks, are among the best-preserved underwater archaeological sites in the world and have made the area a major destination for maritime archaeology and recreational diving.

In Indonesian and Malay, truk denotes a truck, a motor vehicle designed to transport goods. This usage is widespread in everyday language and signage across Indonesia and Malaysia. The Indonesian/Malay term is unrelated etymologically to the geographic name Truk, though they share the same spelling in Latin script.

In sum, "Truk" may refer to a historic name for a Micronesian atoll known today as Chuuk, notable for its wartime wrecks, or to the Malay/Indonesian word for a truck, depending on the context.