Library / English Dictionary |
TRIM
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
Irregular inflected forms: trimmed , trimmer , trimmest , trimming
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cutting down to the desired size or shape
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("trim" is a kind of...):
cut; cutting; cutting off (the act of shortening something by chopping off the ends)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trim"):
pruning (the act of trimming a plant)
Derivation:
trim (cut down on; make a reduction in)
trim (cut closely)
trim (cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A decoration or adornment on a garment
Example:
the trim on a shirt
Synonyms:
passementerie; trim; trimming
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("trim" is a kind of...):
adornment (a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trim"):
braid; braiding; gold braid (trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains)
miniver (trimming on ceremonial robes consisting of white or light grey fur)
rickrack; ricrac (a narrow zigzag ribbon used as trimming)
Derivation:
trim (decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods)
trim (decorate, as with ornaments)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Hypernyms ("trim" is a kind of...):
attitude (position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion))
Derivation:
trim (be in equilibrium during a flight)
trim (balance in flight by regulating the control surfaces)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A state of arrangement or appearance
Example:
in good trim
Synonyms:
trim; trimness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("trim" is a kind of...):
neatness; spruceness (the state of being neat and smart and trim)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Example:
a body kept trim by exercise
Synonyms:
spare; trim
Classified under:
Similar:
lean; thin (lacking excess flesh)
Derivation:
trimness (a state of arrangement or appearance)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Severely simple in line or design
Example:
tailored curtains
Synonyms:
tailored; trim
Classified under:
Similar:
plain (not elaborate or elaborated; simple)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Example:
a trim beard
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
tidy (marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits)
Derivation:
trimness (a state of arrangement or appearance)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of places; characterized by order and neatness; free from disorder
Example:
a trim little sailboat
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
tidy (marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits)
Derivation:
trimness (a state of arrangement or appearance)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Adjust (sails on a ship) so that the wind is optimally used
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)
Domain category:
ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Cut down on; make a reduction in
Example:
The employer wants to cut back health benefits
Synonyms:
bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)
Verb group:
cut (have a reducing effect)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trim"):
knock off; shave (cut the price of)
subtract (take off or away)
downsize ((of a company) reduce in size or number of employees)
inflate (increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value)
deflate (reduce or cut back the amount or availability of, creating a decline in value or prices)
detract; take away (take away a part from; diminish)
thin (make thin or thinner)
thin out (make sparse)
slash (cut drastically)
retrench (make a reduction, as in one's workforce)
quench (reduce the degree of (luminescence or phosphorescence) in (excited molecules or a material) by adding a suitable substance)
spill (reduce the pressure of wind on (a sail))
shorten (make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
trim (cutting down to the desired size or shape)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Example:
trim my beard
Synonyms:
shave; trim
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
cut (shorten as if by severing the edges or ends of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trim"):
fleece; shear (shear the wool from)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They trim their hair
Derivation:
trim; trimming (cutting down to the desired size or shape)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
Example:
trim lumber
Synonyms:
pare; trim
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trim"):
dress (cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
trimmer (a machine that trims timber)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
Example:
dress the plants in the garden
Synonyms:
clip; crop; cut back; dress; lop; prune; snip; trim
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
thin out (make sparse)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trim"):
shear (cut with shears)
poll; pollard (convert into a pollard)
disbud (thin out buds to improve the quality of the remaining flowers)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They trim the trees
Derivation:
trimming (cutting down to the desired size or shape)
trimmer (a worker who thins out and trims trees and shrubs)
trim (cutting down to the desired size or shape)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods
Synonyms:
dress; garnish; trim
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)
Verb group:
dress; dress out (kill and prepare for market or consumption)
dress (put a dressing on)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The chefs trim the vegetables
Derivation:
trim (a decoration or adornment on a garment)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Example:
trim a shop window
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
trim; trimming (a decoration or adornment on a garment)
Sense 8
Meaning:
Be in equilibrium during a flight
Example:
The airplane trimmed
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))
Verb group:
trim (balance in flight by regulating the control surfaces)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
trim (attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Balance in flight by regulating the control surfaces
Example:
trim an airplane
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "trim" is one way to...):
balance; equilibrate; equilibrise; equilibrize (bring into balance or equilibrium)
Verb group:
trim (be in equilibrium during a flight)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
trim (attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation)
Context examples:
How do you like my trimming? How has Wright done my hair? —with many other relative questions, all answered with patient politeness.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Godalming is an amateur fitter himself, and evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
You wore a costume of dove-coloured silk with ostrich-feather trimming.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
So the man went home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a nice trim little cottage.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Holmes walked slowly up and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the outsides of the windows.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with: I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
It was a lady’s hand-bag which stood upon the study table—a trim little handbag of crocodile-skin and silver.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"No, I wouldn't, for the smart caps won't match the plain gowns without any trimming on them. Poor folks shouldn't rig," said Jo decidedly.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
They were expected about dark, and ere dusk fires were lit upstairs and below; the kitchen was in perfect trim; Hannah and I were dressed, and all was in readiness.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
“There’s a man whose life might help you to trim your own course,” said my father, as we took our seats at a vacant table.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)