Adjacent Words

Trim definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRIM, a. Firm; compact; tight; snug; being in good order. We say of a ship, she is trim, or trim-built; every thing about the man is trim. We say of a person, he is trim, when his body is well shaped and firm; and we say, his dress is trim, when it sits closely to his body and appears tight and snug; and of posture we say, a man or a soldier is trim, when he stands erect. It is particularly applicable to soldiers, and in Saxon, truma is a troop or body of soldiers.
TRIM, v.t.
1. In a general sense, to make right, that is, to put in due order for any purpose.
The hermit trimm'd his little fire.
2. To dress; to put the body in a proper state.
I was trimm'd in Julia's gown.
3. To decorate; to invest or embellish with extra ornaments; as, to trim a gown with lace.
4. To clip, as the hair of the head; also, to shave; that is, to put in due order.
5. To lop, as superfluous branches; to prune; as, to trim trees.
6. To supply with oil; as, to trim a lamp.
7. To make neat; to adjust.
I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress--
8. In carpentry, to dress, as timber; to make smooth.
9. To adjust the cargo of a ship, or the weight of persons or goods in a boat, so equally on each side of the center and at each end, that she shall sit well on the water and sail well. Thus we say, to trim a ship or a boat.
10. To rebuke; to reprove sharply; a popular use of the word.
11. To arrange in due order for sailing; as, to trim the sails.
To trim in, in carpentry, to fit, as a piece of timber into other work.
To trip up, to dress; to put in order.
TRIM, v.i. To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favor each.
TRIM, n. Dress; gear; ornaments.
1. The state of a ship or her cargo, ballast, masts, etc., by which she is well prepared for sailing.
Trim of the masts, is their position in regard to the ship and to each other, as near or distant,far forward or much aft, erect or raking.
Trim of sails, is that position and arrangement which is best adapted to impel the ship forward.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: thin and fit; "the spare figure of a marathon runner"; "a body kept trim by exercise" [syn: spare, trim]
2: of places; characterized by order and neatness; free from disorder; "even the barn was shipshape"; "a trim little sailboat" [syn: shipshape, trim, well-kept]
3: neat and smart in appearance; "a clean-cut and well-bred young man"; "the trig corporal in his jaunty cap"; "a trim beard" [syn: clean-cut, trig, trim]
4: severely simple in line or design; "a neat tailored suit"; "tailored curtains" [syn: tailored, trim] n
1: a state of arrangement or appearance; "in good trim" [syn: trim, trimness]
2: a decoration or adornment on a garment; "the trimming on a hat"; "the trim on a shirt" [syn: trimming, trim, passementerie]
3: attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation
4: cutting down to the desired size or shape [syn: trim, trimming, clipping] v
1: remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size; "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"; "trim lumber" [syn: pare, trim]
2: decorate, as with ornaments; "trim the christmas tree"; "trim a shop window"
3: cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits" [syn: reduce, cut down, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down]
4: balance in flight by regulating the control surfaces; "trim an airplane"
5: be in equilibrium during a flight; "The airplane trimmed"
6: decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods [syn: trim, garnish, dress]
7: cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of; "dress the plants in the garden" [syn: snip, clip, crop, trim, lop, dress, prune, cut back]
8: cut closely; "trim my beard" [syn: shave, trim]
9: adjust (sails on a ship) so that the wind is optimally used

Merriam Webster's

geographical name town E Ireland capital of County Meath population 1781

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (trimmed; trimming) Etymology: probably from Middle English *trimmen to prepare, put in order, from Old English trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, from trum strong, firm; probably akin to Old English tr?o tree, wood — more at tree Date: circa 1521 transitive verb 1. to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments <trim the Christmas tree> <the coat was trimmed with fur> 2. a. to administer a beating to ; thrash b. defeat <trimmed me at chess> 3. a. to make trim and neat especially by cutting or clipping <trim the hedges> b. to free of excess or extraneous matter by or as if by cutting <trim a budget> <trim down the inventory> c. to remove by or as if by cutting <trimmed thousands from federal payrolls — Grit> 4. a. (1) to cause (as a ship) to assume a desirable position in the water by arrangement of ballast, cargo, or passengers (2) to adjust (as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward b. to adjust (as cargo or a sail) to a desired position 5. to adjust (as one's opinions) for reasons of expediency — often used in the phrase trim one's sails intransitive verb 1. a. to maintain neutrality between opposing parties or to favor each equally b. to change one's views for reasons of expediency 2. to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water <a boat that trims badly> II. adjective (trimmer; trimmest) Date: circa 1521 1. obsolete excellent, fine 2. ready for service or use; also in good physical condition <keeps trim by jogging> 3. exhibiting neatness, good order, or compactness of line or structure <trim houses> • trimly adverb • trimness noun III. adverb Date: 1529 in a trim manner ; trimly — used chiefly in combination <the trim-cut forest vistas — W. M. Thackeray> IV. noun Date: circa 1593 1. suitable or excellent condition <tries to keep in trim> 2. a. one's clothing or appearance b. material used for ornament or trimming c. the woodwork in the finish of a building especially around openings d. the interior furnishings of an automobile 3. a. the position of a ship or boat especially with reference to the horizontal; also the difference between the draft of a ship forward and that aft b. the relation between the plane of a sail and the direction of the ship c. the buoyancy status of a submarine d. the attitude of a lighter-than-air craft relative to a fore-and-aft horizontal plane e. the attitude with respect to wind axes at which an airplane will continue in level flight with free controls 4. something that is trimmed off or cut out 5. a haircut that neatens a previous haircut

U.S. Military Dictionary

The difference in draft at the bow and stern of a vessel or the manner in which a vessel floats in the water based on the distribution of cargo, stores and ballast aboard the vessel. See also draft; watercraft. (JP 4-01.6)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v., n., & adj. --v. (trimmed, trimming) 1 tr. a set in good order. b make neat or of the required size or form, esp. by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts. 2 tr. (foll. by off, away) remove by cutting off (such parts). 3 tr. a (often foll. by up) make (a person) neat in dress and appearance. b ornament or decorate (esp. clothing, a hat, etc. by adding ribbons, lace, etc.). 4 tr. adjust the balance of (a ship or aircraft) by the arrangement of its cargo etc. 5 tr. arrange (sails) to suit the wind. 6 intr. a associate oneself with currently prevailing views, esp. to advance oneself. b hold a middle course in politics or opinion. 7 tr. colloq. a rebuke sharply. b thrash. c get the better of in a bargain etc. --n. 1 the state or degree of readiness or fitness (found everything in perfect trim). 2 ornament or decorative material. 3 dress or equipment. 4 the act of trimming a person's hair. 5 the inclination of an aircraft to the horizontal. --adj. 1 neat or spruce. 2 in good order; well arranged or equipped. Phrases and idioms: in trim 1 looking smart, healthy, etc. 2 Naut. in good order. Derivatives: trimly adv. trimness n. Etymology: perh. f. OE trymman, trymian make firm, arrange: but there is no connecting evidence between OE and 1500

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trim Trim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Trimming.] [OE. trimen, trumen, AS. trymian, trymman, to prepare, dispose, make strong, fr. trum firm, strong; of uncertain origin.] 1. To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust. The hermit trimmed his little fire. --Goldsmith. 2. To dress; to decorate; to adorn; to invest; to embellish; as, to trim a hat.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trim Trim, v. i. To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favor each.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trim Trim, n. 1. Dress; gear; ornaments. Seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim. --Sir W. Scott. 2. Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim. `` The trim of an encounter.'' --Chapman. 3. The state of a ship or her cargo, ballast, masts, etc., by which she is well prepared for sailing. 4. (Arch) The lighter woodwork in the interior of a building; especially, that used around openings, generally in the form of a molded architrave, to protect the plastering at those points. In ballast trim (Naut.), having only ballast on board. --R. H. Dana, Jr. Trim of the masts (Naut.), their position in regard to the ship and to each other, as near or distant, far forward or much aft, erect or raking. Trim of sails (Naut.), that adjustment, with reference to the wind, witch is best adapted to impel the ship forward.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trim Trim, a. [Compar. Trimmer; superl. Trimmest.] [See Trim, v. t.] Fitly adjusted; being in good order., or made ready for service or use; firm; compact; snug; neat; fair; as, the ship is trim, or trim built; everything about the man is trim; a person is trim when his body is well shaped and firm; his dress is trim when it fits closely to his body, and appears tight and snug; a man or a soldier is trim when he stands erect. With comely carriage of her countenance trim. --Spenser. So deemed I till I viewed their trim array Of boats last night. --Trench.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(trimmer, trimmest, trims, trimming, trimmed) 1. Something that is trim is neat, tidy, and attractive. The neighbours' gardens were trim and neat. ADJ 2. If you describe someone's figure as trim, you mean that it is attractive because there is no extra fat on their body. The driver was a trim young woman of perhaps thirty. ADJ [approval] 3. If you trim something, for example someone's hair, you cut off small amounts of it in order to make it look neater and tidier. My friend trims my hair every eight weeks... VERB: V n • Trim is also a noun. His hair needed a trim. N-SING 4. If a government or other organization trims something such as a plan, policy, or amount, they reduce it slightly in extent or size. American companies looked at ways they could trim these costs... VERB: V n 5. If something such as a piece of clothing is trimmed with a type of material or design, it is decorated with it, usually along its edges. ...jackets, which are then trimmed with crocheted flowers... VERB: usu passive, be V-ed with n • -trimmed He wears a fur-trimmed coat. COMB in ADJ 6. The trim on something such as a piece of clothing is a decoration, for example along its edges, that is in a different colour or material. ...a white satin scarf with black trim... = trimming N-VAR 7. When people are in trim or in good trim, they are in good physical condition. He is already getting in trim for the big day... PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The only non-modern use is in Jer 2:33, "How trimmest thou thy way to seek love!" used for yatabh, "to make good," here "to study out," and the whole phrase means "to walk in an artificial manner," "like a courtesan."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Snug, neat, nice, compact, well-adjusted, well-ordered, tidy. 2. Spruce, finical, smart. II. n. 1. Dress, gear, ornaments, trimmings, trappings. 2. State, condition, order, case, plight. III. v. a. 1. Adjust, arrange, put in order, set right, make trim, prepare. 2. Dress, decorate, ornament, embellish, adorn, garnish, deck, bedeck, set out, array, set off, trick out. 3. Clip, lop, shear, prune, curtail, shave, shear. 4. (Colloq.) Rebuke, chide, reprove sharply, reprimand. IV. v. n. Fluctuate, vacillate, balance, be on the fence, veer round, change sides, be a timeserver, shift, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

State, dress. In a sad trim; dirty.--Also spruce or fine: a trim fellow.

Moby Thesaurus

Attic, Ciceronian, abbreviate, ability, abridge, abstain, abstract, adjoin, adjunct, adjustment, adorn, adornment, affix, all ataunto, anal, anchor, annex, apoise, apparel, arrange, arrangement, array, ataunt, athletic, attach, attire, bad condition, ballast, barber, be a timeserver, beat, beat all hollow, beat down, beat hollow, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, bedizenment, befringe, belay, best, bind, blazon, bob, boil down, border, bound, braw, break, break bulk, break out ballast, bungup and bilge-free, call down, capability, caparison, capsulize, cement, chaste, cheapen, chic, chipper, cinch, clamp, classic, classy, clean, clean up, clean-cut, clean-limbed, clear, clear for action, clear the decks, clear up, clinch, clip, clobber, clothes, clothes-conscious, clothing, coif, coiffure, color, color patterns, come down on, comely, commission, compact, competence, competency, compress, condense, condition, conk, contract, cop out, cosmopolitan, costume, cramp, crank, crank in, crisp, crop, cure, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, cut off short, cut prices, cut short, dandify, dapper, dashing, deck, deck out, decline, decor, decorate, decoration, defeat, deflate, deploy, depreciate, destroy, devaluate, dinky, direct, dive, dizen, do in, dock, doll up, drapery, draw in, draw taut, dress, dress down, dress up, dressed to advantage, dressing, drub, duck the issue, duds, easy, edge, edging, elaboration, elegant, elide, embellish, embellishment, emblazon, emblazonment, emblazonry, embroider, embroidery, enframe, engraft, enrich, epitomize, evade, evade the issue, exquisite, fall, fall in price, fashion, fasten, fatigues, feathers, fettle, fig, fig out, finished, fit, fitness, fittedness, fix, fix up, flax, flourish, flower arrangement, foreshorten, form, frame, frill, fringe, furbish, furniture arrangement, garb, garments, garnish, garnishment, garniture, gear, genteel, get ready, give a dressing-down, give it to, give way, good condition, grace, graceful, gracile, graft, grapple, groom, guise, gussy up, habiliment, habit, health, hem, hide, hors de combat, illumination, in trim, investiture, investment, jaunty, jew down, jump all over, jump on, kilter, knit, lambaste, lap, larrup, lather, leather, lick, limpid, line, linen, list, lower, lucid, make arrangements, make fast, make preparations, make ready, march, marge, margin, marginate, mark down, marshal, mastery, maturity, mobilize, moor, mow, natty, natural, neat, neaten, nifty, nip, nobby, nose-dive, order, orderly, ornament, ornamentation, outclass, outdo, outfight, outgeneral, outmaneuver, outpoint, outrun, outsail, outshine, paddle, paint, pare, pellucid, perspicuous, piping, plain, plan, plummet, plunge, police, police up, polished, poll, pollard, pompadour, posh, prank, prank up, prearrange, preen, prep, prepare, preparedness, pretreat, prettify, primp, primp up, prink, prink up, process, proficiency, provide, prune, pull in, pure, purfle, purl, put, put in shape, put in trim, put to, qualification, rags, raiment, readiness, ready, ready up, reap, recap, recapitulate, recherche, redecorate, redo, reduce, reel, reel in, refined, refurbish, repair, restrained, retrench, rickrack, rim, ripeness, ritzy, robes, round, ruin, sag, screw up, seasoning, secure, set, set off, set out, set to, settle, settle preliminaries, shape, shapely, sharp, shave, shear, shellac, shift ballast, shingle, shipshape, shoot ballast, shorten, side, simple, sit it out, skin, skin alive, skirt, skive, slash, sleek, slender, slick, slim, slump, smart, smarten, smarten up, smear, smother, smug, snazzy, snip, snub, snug, soigne, soignee, sophisticated, speak to, spick and span, spick-and-span, spiffy, sportswear, spruce, spruce up, stand neuter, state, statuesque, straddle, straighten up, straightforward, streamlined, stunt, style, style-conscious, suitability, suitableness, suitedness, sum up, summarize, swank, swanky, swell, symmetrical, synopsize, tackle, take in, talk to, tan, tasteful, taut, tauten, telescope, tell off, tempering, temporize, terse, thrash, threads, tidy, tidy up, tight, tighten, titivate, togs, toilette, treat, trice up, trick out, trick up, tricksy, trig, trig up, trim ship, trim up, trimming, triumph over, trounce, truncate, try out, unaffected, uncluttered, undo, unlabored, verge, vestment, vesture, wallop, wave, wear, wearing apparel, well-cared-for, well-dressed, well-favored, well-formed, well-groomed, well-made, well-ordered, well-proportioned, well-shaped, welt, whack, whale, whip, winch, wind in, windlass, window dressing, wing out ballast, worst