trim

¹trim

verb \ˈtrim\

trimmedtrim·ming

Definition of TRIM

transitive verb

1

: to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments <trim the Christmas tree> <the coat was trimmed with fur>

2

a : to administer a beating to : thrash b : defeat <trimmed me at chess>

3

a : to make trim and neat especially by cutting or clipping <trim the hedges> b : to free of excess or extraneous matter by or as if by cutting <trim a budget> <trim down the inventory> c : to remove by or as if by cutting <trimmed thousands from federal payrolls — Grit>

4

a (1) : to cause (as a ship) to assume a desirable position in the water by arrangement of ballast, cargo, or passengers (2) : to adjust (as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward b : to adjust (as cargo or a sail) to a desired position

intransitive verb

1

a : to maintain neutrality between opposing parties or to favor each equally b : to change one's views for reasons of expediency

2

: to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water <a boat that trims badly>

— trim one's sails

: to adjust oneself or one's actions to prevailing conditions <compromise or trim your sails to suit the political winds — Philip Johnston>

Examples of TRIM

1. The hedges need to be trimmed.
2. They are looking for ways to trim the budget.
3. We trimmed the Christmas tree.
4. a pillow trimmed in lace

Origin of TRIM

probably from Middle English *trimmen to prepare, put in order, from Old English trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, from trum strong, firm; probably akin to Old English trēo tree, wood — more at tree

First Known Use: circa 1521

Related to TRIM

Synonyms: best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, beat, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst

Antonyms: lose (to)

Related Words: sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend

Near Antonyms: fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with TRIM

bream, brim, dim, glim, grim, Grimm, gym, him, hymn, limb, limn, mim, nim, prim, rim, scrim, shim, skim, slim, swim, Tim, vim, whim