Dictionary

trim

see also: Trim, TRIM

Etymology

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman, from Proto-West Germanic *trummjan, from Proto-Germanic *trumjaną, from Proto-Germanic *trumaz.

Pronunciation

IPA: /tɹɪm/, [t̠ʰɹ̠̊ɪm]

Verb

trim (trims, present participle trimming; simple past and past participle trimmed)

(transitive) To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess.
He trimmed his beard before the interview.
The hedge needs to be trimmed.
Place the screen material in the frame, secure it in place, and trim the edges.
The company trimmed jobs for the second time this year.
A ranch steak is usually trimmed of all excess fat.
(transitive) To decorate or adorn; especially of a Christmas tree.
They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.
- 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC ↗:
  A rotten building newly trimmed over.
- c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene iv]:
  I was trimmed in Madam Julia's gown.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗:
  The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. […] The bed was the most extravagant piece. Its graceful cane halftester rose high towards the cornice and was so festooned in carved white wood that the effect was positively insecure, as if the great couch were trimmed with icing sugar.
(transitive, aviation, of an aircraft) To adjust the positions of control surfaces, sometimes using trim tabs, so as to modify or eliminate the aircraft's tendency to pitch, roll, or yaw when the cockpit controls are released.
(transitive, nautical, of a vessel) To modify the angle relative to the water by shifting cargo or ballast; to adjust for sailing; to assume, or cause to assume a certain position, or trim, in the water.
- 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC ↗:
  The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her to lie a little more evenly.
(transitive, nautical, of a vessel's sails) To modify the angle (of the sails) relative to the wind, especially to set them at the most advantageous angle.
(dated) To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each.
(transitive) To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.
- (Can we date this quote?), [Oliver Goldsmith], [Oliver Goldsmith]}
  }, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
  The hermit trimmed his little fire.
  title = The Vicar of Wakefield: […]volume = !(please specify |volume=I or II)location = Salisbury, Wiltshirepublisher = […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […]year = 1766page =pages =pageurl = https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-vicar-of-wakefield-_goldsmith-oliver_1766__1/page//mode/1upoclc = 21416084newversion =location2 =publisher2 =year2 =page2 =pages2 =pageurl2 =oclc2 =textparam = 4allowparams = year,volume,1,chapter,2,page,3,pageref,pages
  }}
(transitive, carpentry, of timber) To dress; to make smooth.
(transitive, dated) To rebuke; to reprove.
(transitive, dated) To beat or thrash.
(transitive, historical) To cut back the wick of (a lamp) to maintain a clean, bright flame.
- 1811, The Tradesman, volume 7, page 420:
  The lamp, or candle, which lights the binnacle, is placed in the cabin, of course the expence of one light is saved, and all the inconveniences of blowing out in a squally night, and likewise the trouble of trimming the lamp, are avoided.
(transitive, by extension) To change the carbon rods of (an arc lamp).
- 1892, English Mechanic and World of Science, page 444:
  To trim an arc lamp, first remove the old carbons and carefully and thoroughly wipe the carbon rods, holders, &c. with a clean, dry rag. […] Having cleaned the rods, next wipe out the globe and get ready the fresh carbons.

Translations

French: tailler
German: kürzen, nachschneiden, schneiden, stutzen, zurückschneiden
Italian: tagliare, accorciare
Portuguese: cortar, podar, aparar
Russian: обре́зать
Spanish: recortar

Translations

German: schmücken, stutzen
Italian: decorare
Portuguese: decorar
Russian: наряжать
Spanish: orlar, ribetear

Translations

French: compenser
Spanish: compensar

Translations

Russian: накренить

Translations

Noun

trim

(uncountable) Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders.
Paint the house white with blue trim.
(countable) A haircut, especially a moderate one to touch up an existing style.
I went to the hairdresser for a trim but came back nearly bald.
Dress; gear; ornaments.
- 1822, [Walter Scott], Peveril of the Peak. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC ↗:
  seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim
(countable) The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.
to be in good trim
1. (especially, automotive) An established configuration of features within a model.
  Holonyms: make; model
  Near-synonym: submodel
  This model of car comes in three different trims.
  If you want air conditioning, you'll need to move up to the next-higher trim level.
- 1614, George Chapman, Andromeda Liberata:
  The measure and whole trim of comeliness
(uncountable, aviation, of, an aircraft) The state of adjustment of control surfaces such that the desired attitude can be maintained without requiring the continuous application of force to the cockpit controls.
(uncountable, aviation, by extension) The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.
(uncountable, slang, mildly vulgar) Sexual intercourse.
- 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 35, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings‎, New York: Bantam, published 1971, pages 239–240:
  "Take me somewhere."
  His response lacked dignity, but in fairness to him I admit that I had left him little chance to be suave.
  He asked, "You mean, you’re going to give me some trim?"
(nautical) The fore-and-aft angle of the vessel to the water, with reference to the cargo and ballast; the manner in which a vessel floats on the water, whether on an even keel or down by the head or stern.
(nautical) The arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.
(printing, binding, publishing) Any of the three cut edges of book pages, trimmed with a shear after binding.

Translations

Portuguese: remate

Translations

Italian: spuntata (capelli-barba-baffi), sforbiciata

Translations

French: compensation

Translations

French: compensateur
Spanish: compensador

Translations

German: Verkleidung, Ausstattung, (especially cars) Innenausstattung

Translations

French: assiette
Italian: assetto (nave-aereo)

Translations

German: Trimm, Segeltrimmung
Italian: orientamento

Adjective

trim (comparative trimmer, superlative trimmest)

Physically fit.
He goes jogging every day to keep in trim.
Slender, lean.
a trim figure
Neat or smart in appearance.
a trim lawn
- 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:
  […] manhood is melted into curtsies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it.
- 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC ↗:
  “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, […].