trim

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess.
2. (transitive) To decorate or adorn; especially of a Christmas tree.
3. (transitive) 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) 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.
5. (transitive) 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.
8. (transitive) To dress; to make smooth.
9. (dated, transitive) To rebuke; to reprove.
10. (dated, transitive) To beat or thrash.
11. (historical, transitive) To cut back the wick of (a lamp) to maintain a clean, bright flame.
12. (broadly, transitive) To change the carbon rods of (an arc lamp).

Noun

1. (uncountable) Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders.
2. (countable) A haircut, especially a moderate one to touch up an existing style.
3. (countable, uncountable) Dress; gear; ornaments.
4. (countable) The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.
5. (countable, especially, uncountable) The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.
6. (uncountable) 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.
7. (broadly, uncountable) The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.
8. (mildly, slang, uncountable, vulgar) The female genitalia.
9. (broadly, mildly, slang, uncountable, vulgar) Sexual intercourse with a woman.
10. (countable, uncountable) 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.
11. (countable, uncountable) The arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.
12. (countable, uncountable) Any of the three cut edges of book pages, trimmed with a shear after binding.
13. (uncountable) The horizontal position of an underwater water

Adj

1. Physically fit.
2. Slender, lean.
3. Neat or smart in appearance.

Adv

1. (not-comparable) In good order; properly managed or maintained.
2. (not-comparable) With sails well trimmed.

Synonyms

cut

prune

clip

neat

decorate

garnish

tidy

embellish

trimming

lop

dress

👗

ornament

pare

crop

adorn

shave

cut back

cut off

shear

reduce

snip

spruce

chop

natty

edge

smart

orderly

trig

slice

form

deck

dapper

cut down

bedeck

mow

abridge

furnish

adjust

prim

retrench

elegant

arrange

bring down

peel

array

decoration

passementerie

pick

⛏️

festoon

curtail

Translations

coiffer

tailler

stutzen

beschneiden

tagliare

couper

recortar

garnir

cortar

opknappen

beslaan

garneren

émonder

aparar

schneiden

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɹɪm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: trimen

Inherited from Old English: trymman

In summary

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