trim
trim (trim)
transitive verb trimmed, trim′·ming
- Obsolete to prepare; fit out; dress
- to put in proper order; make neat or tidy, esp. by clipping, lopping, etc. to trim one's mustache
- to clip, lop, cut, etc.: often with off to trim dead branches off a tree
- to cut (something) down to the required size or shape
- ☆
- to decorate or embellish as by adding ornaments, contrasting materials, etc. to trim a Christmas tree
- to arrange an attractive display of merchandise in or on to trim a store window
- to balance (a ship) by ballasting, shifting cargo, etc.
- to put (sails or yards) in order for sailing
- to balance (a flying aircraft) by adjusting stabilizers, tabs, etc.
- to modify according to expediency; adjust; adapt
- Informal
- to scold; chide; rebuke
- to beat, punish, thrash, etc.
- to defeat decisively
- 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
- to change one's opinions or viewpoint so as to satisfy opposing factions, etc.; keep a middle-of-the-road policy; compromise
- to change one's opinions or viewpoint opportunistically
- to keep in balance: said of a ship
- to keep a ship in balance, as by adjusting the sails or yards
noun
- order; arrangement; condition in proper trim
- good condition or order to keep in trim for sports
- equipment; gear; dress
- a trimming by clipping, cutting, etc.
- ☆ window dressing
- ☆ decorative molding or borders, esp. around windows and doors
- ☆ the interior furnishings or the exterior ornamental metalwork of an automobile
- any ornamental trimming a dress with lace trim
- the condition of being ready to sail: said of a ship
- the position of a ship in the water in relation to the horizontal, esp. a fore-and-aft horizontal axis
- correct position in the water: a ship is in trim if stable and floating on an even keel, out of trim if not
- the difference between the draft of a ship forward and the draft aft
- the adjustment of the sails or yards in managing a ship
- the degree of buoyancy of a submarine
- the position of an airplane in relation to a fore-and-aft horizontal axis
- something that is trimmed, as a section of film () cut out in editing
- Obsolete character (of a person)
adjective trim′·mer, trim′·mest
- orderly; neat; tidy
- well-proportioned; smartly designed
- in good condition
adverb trim′·mer, trim′·mest
in a trim manner
trim one's sails
to adjust one's opinions, actions, expenditures, etc. to meet changing conditions
trim
modif.
Neat
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
v.
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. To adorn
ornament, embellish, beautify, betinsel, deck, beribbon, spangle, gussy up*, emblazon, embroider; see also decorate.*To defeat
whip, lick, trounce; see defeat 1, 3.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. To prepare for sailing
ballast, rig, outfit, hoist the sails, touch her up*; see also provide 1, sail 1, trim ship.
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
- trilogy
- trilocular
- trilobite
- trilobate
- trillium
- trillionth
- trillion
- Trilling
- trill
- triliteral
- trim one's sails
- trim ship
- trim size
- trimaran
- trimer
- trimerous
- trimester
- trimeter
- trimethadione
- trimetric
