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true definition

true (tro̵̅o̅)

adjective truer tru′er, truest tru′·est

  1. faithful; loyal; constant
  2. reliable; certain a true indication
  3. in accordance with fact; that agrees with reality; not false
    1. conforming to an original, pattern, rule, standard, etc.
    2. exact; accurate; right; correct
  5. rightful; lawful; legitimate the true heirs
  6. accurately fitted, placed, or shaped a door that is not true to the frame
    1. real; genuine; authentic a true diamond
    2. conforming to the ideal character or having all the basic characteristics of such; rightly so called a true scholar
  8. determined by the poles of the earth's axis, not by the earth's magnetic poles true north
  9. Archaic honest, virtuous, or truthful

Etymology: ME treue < OE treowe < treow, faith, akin to Ger treu < IE *drew-, var. of base *deru- > tree: basic sense “firm (as a tree)”

adverb truer tru′er, truest tru′·est

  1. in a true manner; truly, truthfully, accurately, etc.
  2. Biol. with the same inherited trait or traits as a parent; without variation to breed true

transitive verb trued, truing tru′·ing or trueing true′·ing

to fit, place, or shape accurately: often with up

noun

that which is true; truth or reality: with the

Related Forms:

true Idioms

come true

to happen in fulfillment of an expectation, prediction, wish, etc.; become a realized fact

in true

properly set, adjusted, aligned, etc.; exact

out of true

not properly set, adjusted, aligned, etc.; inexact

true to form

behaving as might be expected

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms true idiom

true Synonyms

true

modif.

  1. Accurate

    precise, exact, right, correct, straight, plumb, square; see also accurate 1, valid 1.

  2. Loyal

    sure, dependable, sincere; see faithful, reliable 1, 2.

  3. Genuine

    authentic, actual, pure; see genuine 1, real 2, valid 2. See syn. study at real.

come true

become a fact, be actualized, come about; see develop 1, happen 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

true Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • story: Everyone loves a true story, the stranger the better.

Modifying Another Word

  • especially: Of the solihull claims data especially true you can't how does he.

Infinitive complement

  • say: It is true to say however that the South West is the most affected area.

Used with adjective complement

  • come: Then to get second in the final is just a dream come true, " said a rather pleased Collier.

Preposition: in

  • sense: That's true in the sense that there are many others similar to it.

Preposition: for

  • quantity: The principle is true for all quantities of candidate numerals.

Preposition: if

  • object: Returns true if the specified object is also a Map and the two Map objects represent the same mappings.
true usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

true quotes

A real Centauröpart man, part horse's ass. A rough appraisal, but curiously true.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

In psychoanalysis nothing is true except the exaggerations.

-Adorno,Theodor

Rien n'est vrai que ce qu'on ne dit pas. Nothing is true except that which is unsaid.

-Anouilh,Jean

true quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"true." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/true>

APA Style

true. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/true

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