trim

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /trɪm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form trim

Third-person singular trims

Past tense trimmed

Past participle trimmed

Present participle trimming

1. (transitive) If you trim something, you make it into the required size or shape by cutting away the irregular or unwanted parts.

   He trimmed his beard before the interview.

   The hedge needs to be trimmed.

   A steak is usually trimmed of all excess fat.

2. (transitive) If you trim something, you decorate or adorn it with decorations.

   They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.

3. (transitive) (aviation) You trim an aircraft by adjusting the pitch using trim tabs.
4. (transitive) (nautical) You trim a ship by modifying the angle of the sails relative to the wind.

Noun

Singular trim

Plural trims

1. (uncountable) Trims are additional decorations that are usually placed along edges of something.

   Paint the house white with blue trim.

2. (countable) If you trim something, you cut it in order to neaten it.

   I went to the hairdresser for a trim but came back nearly bald.

3. (nautical) The trim is the arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.

Adjective

Positive trim

Comparative trimmer

Superlative trimmest

1. If a person is trim, he or she is physically fit.

   He goes jogging every day to keep in trim.

2. If a person is trim, he or she is slim.

   She has a trim figure.

3. If a person is trim, he or she is neat and smart in appearance.

   His face was freshly shaved, his clothes neat and trim.