trigger man
1482
methods: a trigger-happy government that ordered the shooting of anyone who entered their territory
'trigger ,man n AmE informal a person who shoots another person, especially when they do this for someone else: Even if the trigger men are caught, those who ordered the killing escape punishment.
trig·o·nom·e·try /ˌtrɪgəˈnɒmɪtriˈnɑː-/ n [U] the branch of MATHEMATICS that deals with the relationship between the sides and angles of TRIANGLES
trig point /ˈtrg pɔɪnt/ n informal for TRIANGULATION STATION
trike /traɪk/ n informal for TRICYCLE
tril·by /ˈtrɪlbi/ also ,trilby 'hat n especially BrE a man's soft FELT hat with a fold in the top
tri·lin·gual /ˌtraɪˈlɪŋgwəl/ adj of, using, or able to speak three languages: a trilingual secretary —-ly adv
trill¹ /trɪl/ n 1 tech the rapid repeating of two musical notes a TONE apart in turn 2 a sound or number of repeated sounds like this, especially as made by a bird 3 tech a speech sound like this, such as that produced by the point of the tongue against the part of the mouth just behind the upper front teeth
trill² v [I;T] to sing, play, or pronounce with a trill: The birds were trilling in the treetops.
tril·lion /ˈtrɪljən/ determiner, n, pron pl. trillion or trillions 1 BrE (the number) one million million million; 1,000,000,000,000,000; 10⁸ || AmE (the number) one million million; 1,000,000,000,000; 10¹². 2 [often] also trillions pl. —informal a very large number; lots —-th determiner, n, pron, adv
tri·lo·bite /ˈtraɪləbaɪt/ n a small sea creature of very long ago, whose remains are found in large numbers in some areas
tril·o·gy /ˈtrɪlədʒi/ n a group of three related books, plays etc, connected by a shared subject but each complete in itself: It's the second part of the second play in a trilogy.
trim¹ /trɪm/ v -mm- [T] 1 [(OFF)] to make neat, even, or tidy by cutting or removing unwanted parts: I'm having my hair trimmed tomorrow. | Trim off the loose threads. | a neatly-trimmed beard 2 [(WITH)] to decorate, especially round the edges: a jacket trimmed with fur 3 to reduce, especially by removing what is unnecessary: You must trim your costs if you want to increase your profits. 4 to move (a sail) into the correct position so that the boat will sail well 5 trim one's sails to spend less money, because one can afford less —-mer n: a hedge trimmer
trim² n 1 [S] an act of cutting: My beard needs a trim. 2 [U] informal proper condition; readiness or fitness: The team was in (good) trim for the match. 3 [U] tech the degree to which an aircraft or spacecraft is level in relation to a fixed point, such as the horizon. 4 [S;U] additional decoration, especially on a car: Her new sports car was dark blue with a white trim.
trim³ adj -mm- tidy; in good order; pleasingly neat in appearance: trim gardens | a trim figure —-ly adv
tri·ma·ran /ˈtraɪməræn/ n a small sailing boat, used for pleasure or racing, that is made of three separate but connected boatlike parts (HULLS) side by side
Trim·ble, David /ˈtrɪmbəl/ (1944–) a British politician and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, a political party in Northern Ireland which is supported mostly by PROTESTANTS, who believes strongly that Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK. He worked hard to bring peace to Northern Ireland and shared the NOBEL PRIZE for peace with John Hume. He was First Minister in the new Northern Ireland Assembly (=the parliament of Northern Ireland) from 1998 until the parliament was closed in 2002.
tri·mes·ter /traɪˈmestər‖træɪ-/ n AmE 1 any of three equal TERMS at a school or college 2 a period of three or about three months, especially of a woman's PREGNANCY: a first-trimester miscarriage
trim·ming /ˈtrɪmɪŋ/ n [usually pl.] 1 a decoration or pleasant addition: We had roast duck with all the trimmings. (=vegetables, potatoes, SAUCE etc) 2 a piece cut off from a larger piece: hedge trimmings
Trin·i·dad and To·ba·go /ˌtrɪnɪdæd ænd təˈbeɪɡəʊ/ a country in the south Caribbean Sea, close to the coast of Venezuela, and consisting of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Population: 1,104,209 (2003). Capital: Port of Spain.
tri·ni·tro·tol·u·ene /ˌtraɪnaɪtrəʊˈtɒljuːiːn‖ˈtɑː-/ n [U] → see TNT
trin·i·ty /ˈtrɪnɪti/ n formal or lit a group of three
Trinity, the also the Holy Trinity in the Christian religion, the name given to the three forms of God – the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the HOLY SPIRIT – which are all part of the same one God
,Trinity 'House a British organization that provides LIGHT-HOUSES and LIGHTSHIPS around the coast of the UK
'Trinity ,term n [C;U] the name given to the summer TERM (=one of the three periods that the school year is divided into) in some British schools and universities
trin·ket /ˈtrɪŋkɪt/ n a piece of jewellery or other small decorative article of fairly low value
Trin·ny and Su·san·nah /ˌtrɪni ən suːˈzænə/ the presenters of a BBC television programme called What Not To Wear. They give advice on what type of clothes someone should wear depending on their body shape and size.
tri·o /ˈtrɪəʊ/ n pl. -os 1 [+sing./pl. v] a group of three people or things: The committee is headed by a trio of ministers. 2 [+sing./pl. v] three singers or musicians performing together: a jazz trio 3 a piece of music for three performers → compare DUET, QUARTET
trip¹ /trɪp/ v -pp- 1 [(over);T(UP)] a) to catch one's foot (in or on something) and lose one's balance: The fisherman tripped over a root and fell into the river. b) to cause (someone) to do this: The boy put his foot out to trip the teacher up. 2 [I;T(UP)] to (cause to) make a mistake: This lawyer always tries to trip witnesses up by asking confusing questions. → compare CATCH OUT 3 [+adv/prep] especially lit to move or dance with quick light steps: The little girl tripped down the path. | (fig.) It's an interesting poem, but it hardly trips off the tongue. (=it is difficult to say aloud) → see also TRIP-PINGLY 4 [T] to cause (a SWITCH, spring etc) to operate: A thief climbing in tripped the wire and set the alarm ringing. 5 [(OUT)] slang to be under the influence of a mind-changing drug such as LSD 6 trip the light fantastic pomp or humor to dance
trip² n 1 [(to)] a journey, especially a short one for pleasure or for a particular purpose: We went on a bus trip/a boat trip. | I forgot to buy milk so I had to make another trip to the shops. | I think I'll take a trip to see him. | a business trip to Japan | a day trip to France → see also DAY TRIP, ROUND TRIP, TRIPPER; see TRAVEL (USAGE) 2 a fall; act of tripping 3 slang a period under the influence of a mind-changing drug such as LSD: a bad trip | (fig., derog) He's on a real power trip now that he's in charge. (=he is enjoying his power very much) → see also EGO TRIP 4 rare a mistake: a trip of the tongue
tri·par·tite /traɪˈpɑtaɪt‖pær-/ adj formal 1 having three parts: a tripartite leaf 2 shared by three people, organizations etc: a tripartite agreement → compare BIPARTITE
tripe /traɪp/ n [U] 1 the rubbery wall of the stomach of the cow eaten as food: boiled tripe and onions 2 informal worthless or stupid talk, ideas, writing etc: Why do you read such tripe?
tri·ple¹ /ˈtrɪpəl/ v [I;T] 1 to (cause to) grow to three times the amount or number: The firm tripled its profits last year. 2 (in BASEBALL) to hit a TRIPLE
triple² adj 1 having three parts or members 2 three times repeated: He was convicted of a triple murder. (=of killing three people at the same time)
triple³ n (in BASEBALL) a hit that allows the BATTER to reach THIRD BASE safely
,triple 'A n AmE the spoken form of AAA, the America Automobile Association: 'Call triple A!'