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trim Definition

trim (trim)

transitive verb trimmed, trim′·ming

  1. Obsolete to prepare; fit out; dress
  2. to put in proper order; make neat or tidy, esp. by clipping, lopping, etc. to trim one's mustache
  3. to clip, lop, cut, etc.: often with off to trim dead branches off a tree
  4. to cut (something) down to the required size or shape
  5. ☆
    1. to decorate or embellish as by adding ornaments, contrasting materials, etc. to trim a Christmas tree
    2. to arrange an attractive display of merchandise in or on to trim a store window
    1. to balance (a ship) by ballasting, shifting cargo, etc.
    2. to put (sails or yards) in order for sailing
  7. to balance (a flying aircraft) by adjusting stabilizers, tabs, etc.
  8. to modify according to expediency; adjust; adapt
  9. Informal
    1. to scold; chide; rebuke
    2. to beat, punish, thrash, etc.
    3. to defeat decisively
    4. to cheat

Etymology: via ME dial. < OE trymman, to make firm, set in order, array < trum, strong, firm: for IE base see tree

intransitive verb

    1. to change one's opinions or viewpoint so as to satisfy opposing factions, etc.; keep a middle-of-the-road policy; compromise
    2. to change one's opinions or viewpoint opportunistically
    1. to keep in balance: said of a ship
    2. to keep a ship in balance, as by adjusting the sails or yards

noun

  1. order; arrangement; condition in proper trim
  2. good condition or order to keep in trim for sports
  3. equipment; gear; dress
  4. a trimming by clipping, cutting, etc.
    1. ☆ window dressing
    2. ☆ decorative molding or borders, esp. around windows and doors
    3. ☆ the interior furnishings or the exterior ornamental metalwork of an automobile
    4. any ornamental trimming a dress with lace trim
    1. the condition of being ready to sail: said of a ship
    2. the position of a ship in the water in relation to the horizontal, esp. a fore-and-aft horizontal axis
    3. correct position in the water: a ship is in trim if stable and floating on an even keel, out of trim if not
    4. the difference between the draft of a ship forward and the draft aft
    5. the adjustment of the sails or yards in managing a ship
    6. the degree of buoyancy of a submarine
  7. the position of an airplane in relation to a fore-and-aft horizontal axis
  8. something that is trimmed, as a section of film () cut out in editing
  9. Obsolete character (of a person)

adjective trim′·mer, trim′·mest

  1. orderly; neat; tidy
  2. well-proportioned; smartly designed
  3. in good condition

adverb trim′·mer, trim′·mest

in a trim manner

trim Related Forms
trim′ly adverb trim′·ness noun
trim Idioms

trim one's sails

to adjust one's opinions, actions, expenditures, etc. to meet changing conditions

trim Synonyms

trim

modif.

  1. Neat

    orderly, tidy, spruce; see clean 1, neat 1.

  2. Well-proportioned

    shapely, clean, well-designed, streamlined, slim, slender, shipshape, delicate, fit, comely, well-formed, symmetrical, well-made, clean-cut, well-balanced, graceful, well-molded, harmonious, beautiful, classical, compact, smart; see also handsome 2.

    Antonyms disordered*, shapeless, straggly.

trim Synonyms

trim

v.

  1. To cut off excess

    prune, shave, lop, crop, clip, shear, pare down, even up, mow, snip, plane, slice off, scrape, whittle down, carve down; see also cut 1.

    Antonyms increase*, lengthen, extend.

  2. To adorn

    ornament, embellish, beautify, betinsel, deck, beribbon, spangle, gussy up*, emblazon, embroider; see also decorate.

  3. *To defeat

    whip, lick, trounce; see defeat 1, 3.

  4. To refuse to take a stand

    hedge, temporize, equivocate, dodge, vacillate, remain neutral, stand between, compromise, sit on a fence*, shilly-shally*, hem and haw*; see also hesitate, pause.

    Antonyms oppose*, antagonize, be a partisan of.

  5. To prepare for sailing

    ballast, rig, outfit, hoist the sails, touch her up*; see also provide 1, sail 1, trim ship.

trim Usage Examples

Object

  • hedge: Trees, shrubs, climbers and hedge Last chance to trim deciduous hedges to keep them looking tidy over the winter.
  • wick: If your candle is smoking despite trimming the wick and checking for debris in the melt pool, extinguish the candle immediately.
  • beard: Cheers, Pete Neatly trimmed beards R us Andy T Re: my weekend... ... .
  • leek: Having trimmed the leeks, I decided to tidy up the compost bin area on plot 5 a little.
  • mustache: But of course, there are significant differences between trimming a mustache at twenty-thousand feet, and shaving a whole planet.
  • stalk: In the kitchen Cook beetroot whole, trimming the stalks to about 3cm above the bulb, if you havenât already done so.

Modifies a noun

  • joist: Floor joists are dropped between both trimmer joists in hangers to span the loft area.
  • tab: It evolved into the " trim tab " which is still used on all airplanes.
  • hedge: The houses were bigger, the gardens well kept with trim hedges just about eye height so you couldn't look in.

Used with adjective complement

  • self-guiding: Self-guiding trimmer with bearings mounted on end of cutter.
  • ruffle: It features a bold tie at the waist and a pretty ruffled trim at the legs.

Noun used with modifier

  • wheel: All 406 models gain new wheel trims or alloy wheel designs.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • off: Then trim off the excess pastry from the top.

Present participle complement

  • steer: Golf Match is also equipped with leather trimmed steering wheel coupled with controls for both the computer and stereo.

Particle object:

  • pastry: Then trim off the excess pastry from the top.

Preposition: in

  • leather: Shell trim Trimmed in the finest Italian leather which is hand-stitched.

Preposition: with

  • lace: The Terry Girl Doll features a quilted terry body with top trimmed with lace.
  • fur: Her figure was carelessly wrapped in a loose gown, trimmed with fur; but its grace indicated its symmetry.
  • ribbon: Black satin with a delicate rose design, trimmed with ribbons and lace.
  • bearing: Self-guiding trimmer with bearings mounted on end of cutter.

Browse dictionary entries near trim

  1. ‹ trilogy
  2. ‹ trilocular
  3. ‹ trilobite
  4. ‹ trilobate
  5. ‹ trillium
  6. ‹ trillionth
  7. ‹ trillion
  8. ‹ Trilling
  9. ‹ trill
  10. ‹ triliteral
  1. trim one's sails ›
  2. trim ship ›
  3. trim size ›
  4. trimaran ›
  5. trimer ›
  6. trimerous ›
  7. trimester ›
  8. trimeter ›
  9. trimethadione ›
  10. trimetric ›