Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To make neat or tidy by clipping, smoothing, or pruning.
- intransitive verb To remove the excess or unwanted parts from.
- intransitive verb To remove (excess or unwanted parts).
- intransitive verb To lose (weight or fat) deliberately, as by exercise or dieting.
- intransitive verb To decorate, especially by adding a border or contrasting element.
- intransitive verb To arrange with display items.
- intransitive verb To thrash; beat.
- intransitive verb To defeat soundly.
- intransitive verb To cheat out of money.
- intransitive verb To rebuke; scold.
- intransitive verb To adjust (the sails and yards) so that they receive the wind properly.
- intransitive verb To balance (a ship) by shifting its cargo or contents.
- intransitive verb To balance (an aircraft) in flight by regulating the control surfaces and tabs.
- intransitive verb To be in or retain equilibrium.
- intransitive verb To make sails and yards ready for sailing.
- intransitive verb To affect or maintain cautious neutrality.
- intransitive verb To fashion one's views for momentary popularity or advantage.
- intransitive verb To lose weight deliberately. Often used with down.
- noun A cutting or clipping to make neat.
- noun An excess or unwanted part that has been removed.
- noun State of order, arrangement, or appearance; condition.
- noun A condition of good health or fitness.
- noun Exterior ornamentation, such as moldings or framework, on a building or vehicle.
- noun Decoration or ornament, as for clothing.
- noun Material used in commercial window displays.
- noun Excised or rejected material, such as film that has been cut in editing.
- noun The readiness of a vessel for sailing with regard to ballast, sails, and yards.
- noun The balance of a ship.
- noun The difference between the draft at the bow and at the stern.
- noun The position of an aircraft relative to its horizontal axis.
- adjective In good or neat order.
- adjective In good physical condition; fit; slim.
- adjective Having lines, edges, or forms of neat and pleasing simplicity.
- adverb In a trim manner.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Firm; strong.
- In good order or condition; properly disposed, equipped, or qualified; good; excellent; fine: often used ironically.
- Neat; spruce; smart.
- In a trim manner; trimly.
- In electricity, to replace the burned-out carbons or electrodes of (an arclamp) by new ones.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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An 'now as you' aye your figger'ead in trim, wot I want to know is, wot's it to you?
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He had been accustomed to her only in trim tailor suits and shirtwaists, or in riding costume of velvet corduroy, and he was not prepared for this new revelation.
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The cuts have helped Spain trim its central government deficit by half through July but the unemployment rate stands at 20 percent, and many businesses are struggling to survive.
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There was not enough on the bolt for me, so I added the trim from the lace curtain, to lengthen the sleeves.
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The cuts have helped Spain trim its central government deficit by half through July but the unemployment rate stands at 20%, and many businesses are struggling to survive.
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The trim is made by tracing around the curved edges of the box and cutting with decorative edge scissors.
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There was not enough on the bolt for me, so I added the trim from the lace curtain, to lengthen the sleeves.
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The trim is made by tracing around the curved edges of the box and cutting with decorative edge scissors.
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You are right, Lady Lydia, trim is the most expensive part of any dress, which is why it is good to repurpose them and/or find less expensive ways to achieve the same effect.
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Today he wore a mint green tuxedo jacket with emerald green satin trim and a matching ruffly tuxedo shirt.
oroboros commented on the word trim
Contronymic in the sense: add to (as a Christmas tree) vs. remove.
January 31, 2007