trim

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman (“to make firm; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumjaną (“to make fast; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumaz (“firm; strong; sound”).

• IPA^(key): /tɹɪm/, [t̠ʰɹ̠̊ɪm]

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• Rhymes: -ɪm

trim (third-person singular simple present trims, present participle trimming, simple past and past participle trimmed)

1. (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.

2. (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.

   • 1961 February, “New "Mini-Buffets" from Wolverton”, in Trains Illustrated, page 79:

     Seats are trimmed in a grey and blue moquette and tables are finished with grey Vyanide tops, gilt edging and ebony legs.

   • 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.

3. (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.
4. (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.

5. (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.
6. (dated) To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each.
7. (transitive) To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.
   • 1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, 1885, →OCLC:

     The hermit trimmed his little fire.

8. (transitive, carpentry, of timber) To dress; to make smooth.
9. (transitive, dated) To rebuke; to reprove.
10. (transitive, dated) To beat or thrash.
11. (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.

12. (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.

trim (countable and uncountable, plural trims)

1. (uncountable) Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders.

   Paint the house white with blue trim.

2. (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.

3. Dress; gear; ornaments.
   • 1822, [Walter Scott], Peveril of the Peak. […], volumes (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

4. (countable) The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.

   The car comes in three different trims.

   to be in good trim

   • 1614, George Chapman, Andromeda Liberata:

     The measure and whole trim of comeliness

   • 2024 February 7, Philip Haigh, “Railway's fragile resilience”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 3:

     In addition to the numerous traction aspects of the unit's restoration, the team had to create a trim shop in the depot to re-upholster hundreds of seat components.

5. (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.
6. (uncountable, aviation, by extension) The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.
7. (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?"

8. (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.
9. (nautical) The arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.
10. (printing, binding, publishing) Any of the three cut edges of book pages, trimmed with a shear after binding.

trim (comparative trimmer, superlative trimmest)

1. Physically fit.

   He goes jogging every day to keep in trim.

2. Slender, lean.

   a trim figure

3. 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, […].

trim (not comparable)

1. (nautical) In good order; properly managed or maintained.
2. (nautical) With sails well trimmed.

• MIRT, RMIT

• trajm — Gheg [tɾajm] [1]

From Proto-Albanian *trim-, most likely from Proto-Indo-European *ter- (“soft, weak, young”). Cognate with Sanskrit तरुण (táruṇa, “young”) and Armenian թարմ (tʻarm, “young, fresh”).[2] Alternatively from Proto-Indo-European *trem(s)- (“to thump; to tremble”). Compare Latin tremō (“tremble”), Lithuanian trìmti (“shake, tremble”), Tocharian A tröm (“in rage, fury”) and Tocharian B tremi (“rage, fury”).[3] According to Stuart E. Mann, it is connected to Ancient Macedonian *Tyrimmas if not somehow derived from Ancient Macedonian.[4]

trim m (plural trima, definite trimi, definite plural trimat)[5]

1. man, manful
2. hero
3. courageous
4. valiant, valorous
5. brave, hardy

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• Rhymes: -ɪm

trim

1. inflection of trimmen:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. imperative

trim

1. dative/instrumental plural masculine/feminine of trīs