Adjacent Words

True definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRUE, a.
1. Conformable to fact; being in accordance with the actual state of things; as a true relation or narration; a true history. A declaration is true, when it states the facts. In this sense, true is opposed to false.
2. Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated or false; as true balsam; the true bark; true love of country; a true christian.
--The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1.
3. Faithful; steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince or to the state; loyal; not false, fickle or perfidious; as a true friend; a true lover; a man true to his king, true to his country, true to his word; a husband true to his wife; a wife true to her husband; a servant true to his master; an officer true to his charge.
4. Free from falsehood; as a true witness.
5. Honest; not fraudulent; as good men and true.
If king Edward be as true and just--
6. Exact; right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; as a true copy; a true likeness of the original.
7. Straight; right; as a true line; the true course of a ship.
8. Not false or pretended; real; as, Christ was the true Messiah.
9. Rightful; as, George IV is the true king of England.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: consistent with fact or reality; not false; "the story is true"; "it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true"- B. Russell; "the true meaning of the statement" [ant: false]
2: accurately placed or thrown; "his aim was true"; "he was dead on target" [syn: true, dead on target]
3: devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth; "true believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them"
4: expressing or given to expressing the truth; "a true statement"; "gave truthful testimony"; "a truthful person" [syn: truthful, true] [ant: untruthful]
5: conforming to definitive criteria; "the horseshoe crab is not a true crab"; "Pythagoras was the first true mathematician"
6: worthy of being depended on; "a dependable worker"; "an honest working stiff"; "a reliable sourcSFLe of information"; "he was true to his word"; "I would be true for there are those who trust me" [syn: dependable, honest, reliable, true]
7: not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed; "genuine emotion"; "her interest in people was unfeigned"; "true grief" [syn: genuine, true, unfeigned]
8: rightly so called; "true courage"; "a spirit which true men have always admired"; "a true friend"
9: determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles; "true north is geographic north"
10: having a legally established claim; "the legitimate heir"; "the true and lawful king" [syn: true, lawful, rightful]
11: in tune; accurate in pitch; "a true note" [syn: on-key, true]
12: accurately fitted; level; "the window frame isn't quite true" [syn: true, straight] n
1: proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment; "out of true" v
1: make level, square, balanced, or concentric; "true up the cylinder of an engine" [syn: true, true up] adv
1: as acknowledged; "true, she is the smartest in her class" [syn: true, admittedly, avowedly, confessedly]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective (truer; truest) Etymology: Middle English trewe, from Old English tr?owe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit d?ru?a hard, d?ru wood — more at tree Date: before 12th century 1. a. steadfast, loyal b. honest, just c. archaic truthful 2. a. (1) being in accordance with the actual state of affairs <true description> (2) conformable to an essential reality (3) fully realized or fulfilled <dreams come true> b. ideal, essential c. being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed <the true dimension of the problem> d. consistent <true to character> 3. a. properly so called <true love> <the true faith> <the true stomach of ruminant mammals> b. (1) possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as <a whale is a true but not a typical mammal> (2) typical <the true cats> 4. legitimate, rightful <our true and lawful king> 5. a. that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately b. conformable to a standard or pattern ; accurate 6. determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles <true north> 7. logically necessary 8. narrow, strict <in the truest sense> 9. corrected for error • trueness noun II. adverb Date: 14th century 1. in accordance with fact or reality 2. a. without deviation <the bullet flew straight and true> b. without variation from type <breed true> III. noun Date: circa 1536 1. truth, reality — usually used with the 2. the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) — used in the phrases in true and out of true IV. transitive verb (trued; trueing; also truing) Date: 1841 to make level, square, balanced, or concentric ; bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form <true up a board> <true up an engine cylinder>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj., adv., & v. --adj. 1 in accordance with fact or reality (a true story). 2 genuine; rightly or strictly so called; not spurious or counterfeit (a true friend; the true heir to the throne). 3 (often foll. by to) loyal or faithful (true to one's word). 4 (foll. by to) accurately conforming (to a standard or expectation etc.) (true to form). 5 correctly positioned or balanced; upright, level. 6 exact, accurate (a true aim; a true copy). 7 (absol.) (also it is true) certainly, admittedly (true, it would cost more). 8 (of a note) exactly in tune. 9 archaic honest, upright (twelve good men and true). --adv. 1 truly (tell me true). 2 accurately (aim true). 3 without variation (breed true). --v.tr. (trues, trued, truing or trueing) bring (a tool, wheel, frame, etc.) into the exact position or form required. Phrases and idioms: come true actually happen or be the case. out of true (or the true) not in the correct or exact position. true bill US & hist. a bill of indictment endorsed by a grand jury as being sustained by evidence. true-blue adj. extremely loyal or orthodox. --n. such a person, esp. a Conservative. true-born genuine (a true-born Englishman). true-bred of a genuine or good breed. true-hearted faithful, loyal. true horizon see HORIZON 1c. true-love a sweetheart. true-love (or -lover's) knot a kind of knot with interlacing bows on each side, symbolizing true love. true north etc. north etc. according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north. true rib a rib joined directly to the breastbone. true to form (or type) being or behaving etc. as expected. true to life accurately representing life. Derivatives: trueish adj. trueness n. Etymology: OE treowe, trywe, f. the Gmc noun repr. by TRUCE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

True True (tr[=oo]), a. (Biol.) Genuine; real; not deviating from the essential characters of a class; as, a lizard is a true reptile; a whale is a true, but not a typical, mammal.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

True True, adv. In accordance with truth; truly. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

True True, a. [Compar. Truer; superl. Truest.] [OE. trewe, AS. tre['o]we faithful, true, from tre['o]w fidelity, faith, troth; akin to OFries. triuwe, adj., treuwa, n., OS. triuwi, adj., trewa, n., D. trouw, adj. & n., G. treu, adj., treue, n., OHG. gitriuwi, adj., triuwa, n., Icel. tryggr, adj., Dan. tro, adj. & n., Sw. trogen, adj., tro, n., Goth. triggws, adj., triggwa, n., trauan to trust, OPruss druwis faith. Cf. Trow, Trust, Truth.] 1. Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it states the facts. 2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original. Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time. --Sir W. Scott. 3. Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious; as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his charge. Thy so true, So faithful, love unequaled. --Milton. Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie. --Herbert. 4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian. The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. --John i. 9. True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. --Pope. Note: True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true. Out of true, varying from correct mechanical form, alignment, adjustment, etc.; -- said of a wall that is not perpendicular, of a wheel whose circumference is not in the same plane, and the like. [Colloq.] A true bill (Law), a bill of indictment which is returned by the grand jury so indorsed, signifying that the charges to be true. True time. See under Time.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(truer, truest) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If something is true, it is based on facts rather than being invented or imagined, and is accurate and reliable. Everything I had heard about him was true... The film tells the true story of a group who survived in the Andes in sub-zero temperatures. ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ that 2. You use true to emphasize that a person or thing is sincere or genuine, often in contrast to something that is pretended or hidden. I allowed myself to acknowledge my true feelings... The true cost often differs from that which had first been projected... = real ADJ: ADJ n [emphasis] 3. If you use true to describe something or someone, you approve of them because they have all the characteristics or qualities that such a person or thing typically has. Maybe one day you'll find true love... The ability to work collaboratively is a true test of leadership... I think he's a true genius. = real ADJ: ADJ n [approval] 4. If you say that a fact is true of a particular person or situation, you mean that it is valid or relevant for them. I accept that the romance may have gone out of the marriage, but surely this is true of many couples... Expenditure on health in most of these countries has gone down, and the same is true for education. ADJ: v-link ADJ of/for n 5. If you are true to someone, you remain committed and loyal to them. If you are true to an idea or promise, you remain committed to it and continue to act according to it. David was true to his wife... India has remained true to democracy... She's been true to her word from day one. = faithful ADJ: v-link ADJ to n 6. If a dream, wish, or prediction comes true, it actually happens. Owning a place of their own is a dream come true for the couple. PHRASE: V inflects 7. If a general statement holds true in particular circumstances, or if your previous statement holds true in different circumstances, it is true or valid in those circumstances. (FORMAL) This law is known to hold true for galaxies at a distance of at least several billion light years. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n 8. If you say that something seems too good to be true, you are suspicious of it because it seems better than you had expected, and you think there may something wrong with it that you have not noticed. On the whole the celebrations were remarkably good-humoured and peaceful. Indeed, it seemed almost too good to be true. PHRASE: v-link PHR 9. If you say that something such as a story or a film is true to life, you approve of it because it seems real. The opening scenes of this movie are just not true to life. PHRASE: v-link PHR [approval] 10. true colours: see colour true to form: see form to ring true: see ring tried and true: see tried

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Real, genuine, veritable, actual, pure, authentic. 2. Truthful, veracious, authentic, conformable to fact. 3. Faithful, constant, steady, loyal, stanch. 4. Honest, honorable, upright, just, equitable, virtuous, trusty, trustworthy. 5. Exact, accurate, correct, conformable to a rule. II. ad. Yes, ay, good, well, very well, well and good, granted.

Moby Thesaurus

Christian, absolute, acceptable, accepted, accommodate, accord, accurate, accurately, active, actual, adapt, adjust, adjust to, apodictic, applicable, appropriate, approved, ardent, arrowlike, ascertained, assimilate, attested, attune, authentic, authenticated, authoritative, be realized, befitting, bona fide, bound, candidly, canonical, careful, categorically true, certain, certified, clear, clear and distinct, clear as day, come to pass, come true, committed, compliant, conclusive, confirmed, conforming, conscientious, consistent, constant, conventional, coordinate, correct, correctly, corroborated, creditable, customary, cut to, de facto, dead straight, decisive, dedicated, definite, demonstrated, dependable, desired, determinate, determined, devoted, devout, direct, documentary, duteous, dutiful, effectual, equalize, established, estimable, evangelical, even, exact, exactly, expressive, factual, faithful, faithworthy, fast, finicky, firm, fit, fitting, fix, fixed, flat, flinty, for real, frankly, fussy, gear to, genuine, happen, harmonize, high-principled, historical, homologate, homologize, honest, honest-to-God, honestly, honorable, horizontal, immovable, in a line, incorruptible, indicative, indubitable, ineluctable, inevitable, inflexible, inviolable, just, key to, kosher, lawful, legal, legitimate, level, liege, linear, literal, loyal, make plumb, make uniform, marble-constant, mathematical, meaningful, measure, meticulous, mindful, natural, necessary, normal, not in error, objectively true, observant, occur, of the faith, orthodox, orthodoxical, overnice, perfectly sure, place, positive, practicing, precise, predestined, predetermined, proper, proportion, proved, proven, punctilious, punctual, put in tune, real, realistic, received, reconcile, rectify, rectilineal, rectilinear, regardful, regular, regulate, reliable, resolute, responsible, right, right-minded, rightful, ruler-straight, scriptural, scrupulous, set, set right, settled, significant, similarize, sincere, sincerely, smooth, sot, sound, stable, standard, staunch, steadfast, steady, steely, straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-side, straightforwardly, streamlined, strict, substantial, substantiated, suggestive, suitable, sure, sure-enough, sync, synchronize, tailor, take, tested, textual, to be trusted, traditional, traditionalistic, tried, tried and true, trim to, true as gospel, true up, true-blue, true-meaning, true-speaking, true-tongued, truehearted, truly, trustable, trustworthy, trusty, truth-bearing, truth-declaring, truth-desiring, truth-filled, truth-guarding, truth-loving, truth-passing, truth-speaking, truth-telling, truthful, truthfully, tune, typical, unadulterated, unambiguous, unbending, unbent, unbowed, unbroken, unconfuted, uncurved, undeflectable, undeflected, undeniable, undenied, undesigning, undeviating, undissembled, undistorted, undoubted, unequivocal, unerring, unerroneous, unfailing, unfallacious, unfalse, unfeigned, unflappable, uninterrupted, univocal, unmistakable, unmistaken, unperfidious, unquestionable, unrefuted, unshaken, unswerving, untreacherous, unturned, unvarnished, unwavering, unyielding, upright, valid, validated, veracious, veridical, verifiable, verified, veritable, vertical, very, whole-hearted, worthy