trim Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a state of arrangement or appearance
    trimness.
    • in good trim
  2. noun a decoration or adornment on a garment
    passementerie; trimming.
    • the trimming on a hat
    • the trim on a shirt
  3. noun attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation
  4. noun cutting down to the desired size or shape
    clipping; trimming.
  5. verb remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
    pare.
    • pare one's fingernails
    • trim the photograph
    • trim lumber
  6. verb decorate, as with ornaments
    • trim the christmas tree
    • trim a shop window
  7. verb cut down on; make a reduction in
    cut; cut back; bring down; reduce; cut down; trim down; trim back.
    • reduce your daily fat intake
    • The employer wants to cut back health benefits
  8. verb balance in flight by regulating the control surfaces
    • trim an airplane
  9. verb be in equilibrium during a flight
    • The airplane trimmed
  10. verb decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods
    garnish; dress.
  11. verb cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
    prune; clip; cut back; crop; snip; lop; dress.
    • dress the plants in the garden
  12. verb cut closely
    shave.
    • trim my beard
  13. verb adjust (sails on a ship) so that the wind is optimally used
  14. adjective satellite thin and fit
    spare.
    • the spare figure of a marathon runner
    • a body kept trim by exercise
  15. adjective satellite of places; characterized by order and neatness; free from disorder
    well-kept; shipshape.
    • even the barn was shipshape
    • a trim little sailboat
  16. adjective satellite neat and smart in appearance
    trig; clean-cut.
    • a clean-cut and well-bred young man
    • the trig corporal in his jaunty cap
    • a trim beard
  17. adjective satellite severely simple in line or design
    tailored.
    • a neat tailored suit
    • tailored curtains

WordNet

Trim transitive verb
Etymology
OE. trimen, trumen, AS. trymian, trymman, to prepare, dispose, make strong, fr. trum firm, strong; of uncertain origin.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Trimmed ; present participle & verbal noun Trimming
Definitions
  1. To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.
    The hermit trimmed his little fire. Goldsmith.
  2. To dress; to decorate; to adorn; to invest; to embellish; as, to trim a hat. to trim a Christmas tree.
    A rotten building newly trimmed over. Milton.
    I was trimmed in Julia's gown. Shak.
  3. To make ready or right by cutting or shortening; to clip or lop; to curtail; as, to trim the hair; to trim a tree. " And trimmed the cheerful lamp." Byron.
  4. (Carp.) To dress, as timber; to make smooth.
  5. (Naut.) (a) To adjust, as a ship, by arranging the cargo, or disposing the weight of persons or goods, so equally on each side of the center and at each end, that she shall sit well on the water and sail well; as, to trim a ship, or a boat. (b) To arrange in due order for sailing; as, to trim the sails.
  6. To rebuke; to reprove; also, to beat. Colloq.
    I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress. Shak.
Trim intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favor each.
Trim noun
Definitions
  1. Dress; gear; ornaments.
    Seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim. Sir W. Scott.
  2. Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim. " The trim of an encounter." Chapman.
  3. The state of a ship or her cargo, ballast, masts, etc., by which she is well prepared for sailing.
  4. (Arch) The lighter woodwork in the interior of a building; especially, that used around openings, generally in the form of a molded architrave, to protect the plastering at those points.
Trim adjective
Etymology
See Trim, v. t.
Wordforms
comparative Trimmer ; superlative Trimmest
Definitions
  1. Fitly adjusted; being in good order., or made ready for service or use; firm; compact; snug; neat; fair; as, the ship is trim, or trim built; everything about the man is trim; a person is trim when his body is well shaped and firm; his dress is trim when it fits closely to his body, and appears tight and snug; a man or a soldier is trim when he stands erect.
    With comely carriage of her countenance trim. Spenser.
    So deemed I till I viewed their trim array Of boats last night. Trench.

Webster 1913