1481
trigger-happy
grief, worry, suffering etc: After many trials and tribulations we finally reached our destination.
tri-bu-nal /traɪ'bjuːnl/ n [C+sing/pl. v] a court of people officially appointed to deal with special matters: The rent tribunal reduced my rent. | He took his case of unfair dismissal to the industrial relations tribunal.
trib-une /'trɪbjun/ n 1 an official of ancient Rome elected by the ordinary people to protect their interests 2 (usually cap.) a common name for a newspaper, especially in the US: the Chicago Tribune | the Herald-Tribune
trib-u-tar-y¹ /'trɪbjʊtəri-teri/ n a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river: the tributaries of the Rhine
tributary² adj [(to)] fml (of a person, country etc) having a duty to pay TRIBUTE to another: tributary states
trib-ute /'trɪbjuːt/ n 1 [C;U] something done, said, or given to show respect or admiration for someone: I'd like to pay tribute to (=praise and thank) the office staff for all the hard work they've put in on this project. | Everyone in the office gave money towards a floral tribute (=special flowers) for his funeral. 2 [S+to] something that clearly shows the effect or influence of a particular good quality or action: The new engine's performance is a tribute to the skill of its designers. 3 [C;U] (a) payment made by one ruler, government, or country to another as the price of peace, protection etc
trice /traɪs/ n in a trice especially BrE infml in a moment; in the shortest possible time
tri-ceps /'traɪseps/ n pl. triceps or tricepses the large muscle that runs along the back of the upper arm
trich-i-no-sis /ˌtrɪkɪ'nəʊsɪs/ n [U] med a serious disease which can be caused by eating PORK which has not been thoroughly cooked
tri-chlo-ro-e-thane /ˌtraɪklɔːrə'iːθeɪn/ n [U] a poisonous liquid chemical compound, used as a SOLVENT
tri-chol-o-gy /trɪ'kɒlədʒɪl-'kaː-/ n [U] tech the study and treatment of disorders of hair growth —gist n
trick¹ /trɪk/ n 1 a clever set of actions done to entertain people, especially by using skill to confuse them: He performed some clever magic tricks. | No one could work out how I did the card tricks. → compare JOKE 2 a clever act or plan meant to deceive or cheat someone: He got the money by a trick. | (fig.) I thought I saw a ghost, but perhaps it was only a trick of the light. (=a deceiving appearance) → see also DIRTY TRICK 3 a troublesome but playful act; PRANK: The children loved playing tricks on their teacher. → compare PRACTICAL JOKE 4 a quick or clever way to do something or get a desired result; special skill or KNACK: John taught me the trick of pouring wine without spilling any. | There's a trick to opening this lock. | (infml) Don't make fun of your grandfather just because he's old; he could teach you a trick or two. (=he knows more than you do) | If you want to start your own car business you should ask his advice – he knows all the tricks of the trade. | She used every trick in the book to pull off the deal. 5 the cards played or won in one ROUND of a game of cards → see CARDS (USAGE) 6 [(of)] a strange or typical habit: He has a trick of pulling at his earlobe when he speaks to you. 7 AmE slang a) sex with a PROSTITUTE b) a one-time sexual partner, especially of a PROSTITUTE 8 do the trick infml to fulfil one's purpose or intention; do what is needed: This medicine ought to do the trick. (=cure the illness) 9 How's tricks? infml (used as a greeting) How are you? 10 not/never miss a trick infml to know exactly what is happening, and never fail to take advantage of a favourable situation → see also CONFIDENCE TRICK, HAT TRICK
trick² adj [A] 1 made for playing tricks: a trick spoon that melts in hot liquid 2 full of intentionally hidden and unexpected difficulties: That's not fair; it was a trick question! 3 AmE weak and likely to give way unexpectedly: a trick knee
trick³ v 1 [T(into)] to deceive: The police tricked him into making a confession. 2 [I(with)] AmE slang to find a sexual partner
trick sbdy./sthg. ⇔ out/up phr v [T+obj+adv/prep, especially in] fml or lit to dress in bright or decorative things: tricked out in ribbons/in a gaudy outfit
trick-e-ry /'trɪkəri/ n [U] the use of tricks to deceive or cheat
trick-le¹ /'trɪkəl/ v [I+adv/prep] to flow in drops or in a thin stream: Blood/A tear trickled slowly down his cheek. | (fig.) The children trickled into the classroom. → compare STREAM
trickle down phr v [I(to)] (usually of money) to slowly reach people at the bottom of a HIERARCHY after being put in at the top: Their intention is that the tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to the poor. → see also TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT
trickle² n [S(of)] a thin slow flow or movement: The number of refugees from the area has now slowed to a trickle.
'trickle charger n BrE an apparatus for charging a BATTERY, especially one on a motor vehicle, at a steady slow rate
,trickle-'down effect n the process by which some ECONOMISTS believe that additional money or other capital in the hands of a few people at the top of an organization will later reach people at the bottom: The improved economy should have a trickle-down effect on the unemployed.
,trick or 'treat n, interj a children's practice of going to people's houses on HALLOWEEN and asking for TREATS under threat of playing TRICKS on people who refuse —trick-or-treat v [I] to go trick-or-treating
trick-ster /'trɪkstə/ n a person who deceives or cheats people
trick-y /'trɪki/ adj 1 (of a situation, piece of work etc) difficult to handle or deal with; full of hidden or unexpected difficulties: I'm in a rather tricky position; can you help me out? | a tricky question | This problem may prove rather tricky for the government. 2 deceitful; clever in cheating; CRAFTY: Be careful how you deal with him; he's a tricky customer. (=person) —iness n [U]
tri-col-our BrE || -or AmE /'traɪkələr || 'traɪˌkʌlər/ n 1 [the] (usually cap.) the national flag of France 2 [C] a flag with three equal bands of different colours
tri-cy-cle /'traɪsɪkəl/ n a bicycle with three wheels, two at the back and one at the front, used especially by small children
tri-dent /'traɪdənt/ n a forklike instrument or ancient weapon with three points
Trident¹ trademark a powerful type of MISSILE developed in the US. It carries NUCLEAR explosives, is fired from SUBMARINES, and can attack several different places at the same time.
Trident² trademark a type of CHEWING GUM without any sugar in it, sold in the US
tried¹ /traɪd/ past tense & participle of TRY
tried² adj [no comp.] found to be good or trustworthy by experience or testing: a tried and tested method | He's a tried and true friend.
tri-en-ni-al /traɪ'enɪəl/ adj done or happening every three years
tri-er /'traɪə/ n apprec a person who tries hard; someone who always does their best, even if they do not often succeed
trif-id /'trɪfɪd/ n an imaginary plant which grows to a great size, moves about, and attacks people (from the NOVEL The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham)
trifle² v
trifle with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] fml to treat without the necessary seriousness or respect: The boss is not a person to be trifled with.
tri-fle¹ /'traɪfəl/ n 1 [C;U] a British dish made of plain cakes set in fruit and jelly covered with cream and/or CUSTARD 2 [C] fml an article or thing of little value or slight importance; matter of slight importance: I don't know why you waste your money/time on such trifles. 3 a trifle fml to some degree; rather: I'm a trifle annoyed about it.
tri-fling /'traɪflɪŋ/ adj fml of slight importance or little value; INSIGNIFICANT: It only cost a trifle sum. | a trifling matter
trig-ger¹ /'trɪgə/ n a small piece of metal pressed by the finger to fire a gun: to pull the trigger → see also HAIR TRIGGER
trigger² v [T(OFF)] to start or cause (especially a number of events, often of an undesirable kind, that happen one after the other): Large price increases could trigger demands for even larger wage increases. | The successful hijacking triggered a spate of terrorist activity.
'trigger-happy adj 1 too ready to shoot; ready to shoot for the slightest reason 2 not responsible enough, especially in matters which could lead to war; too ready to use violent