trim1 verbtrim2 adjectivetrim3 noun
trimtrim1 /trɪm/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle trimmed, present participle trimming) [transitive] 
WORD ORIGINtrim1
Origin:
Old English trymian, trymman ‘to strengthen, arrange’, from trum ‘strong, firm’VERB TABLE
trim
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | trim |
| he, she, it | trims | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | trimmed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have trimmed |
| he, she, it | has trimmed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had trimmed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will trim |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have trimmed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am trimming |
| he, she, it | is trimming | |
| you, we, they | are trimming | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was trimming |
| you, we, they | were trimming | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been trimming |
| he, she, it | has been trimming | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been trimming |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be trimming |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been trimming |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- By trimming costs and improving service the hotel has now started to make a profit again.
- Congress plans to trim $200 million from the Pentagon budget.
- Could you just trim my hair at the back?
- Do you think the hedge needs trimming?
- I need to trim my mustache.
- The proposed bill would trim welfare spending by $5 billion.
- We trimmed the bushes in front of the house.
- In February, you must trim back to a fat bud.
- Press down the edges to seal and trim off the excess pastry.
- Stocks and bonds yesterday trimmed part of their losses made earlier this week.
- The council had to trim its £21.6m spending plans by £1.4m, due to the Government's capping limits.
- The house was made of gingerbread and trimmed with raisins and nuts.
- Use a sharp knife to trim round fittings or skirting boards - obviously this needs to be done with care.
THESAURUS
to divide something into two or more pieces, especially using a knife or scissors: · Do you want me to cut the cake?· He cut off the lower branches.
to quickly cut something, especially using scissors: · I snipped the label off.· The hairdresser snipped away at her hair.
to make a long narrow cut through something, especially using a knife: · He slit the envelope open with a penknife.· She slit through the plastic covering.
to cut something quickly and violently with a knife, making a long thin cut: · Someone had slashed the tyres on his car.· He tried to slash his wrists.
to cut wood, using a saw (=a tool with a row of sharp points): · Saw the wood to the correct length.
to cut wood, vegetables, or meat into pieces: · Bill was outside chopping up firewood with an axe.· They chopped down the old tree.· finely chopped onion
to cut bread, meat, or vegetables into thin pieces: · I’ll slice the cucumber.· Slice the bread thinly.
to cut vegetables or meat into small square pieces: · First dice the apple into cubes.
to cut cheese or a hard vegetable by rubbing it against a special tool: · Grate the cheese and sprinkle it over the vegetables.
to cut the outside part off something such as a potato or apple: · I peeled the potatoes and put them in a saucepan.
to cut thin pieces from a large piece of meat: · Uncle Ray carved the turkey.
to cut the grass in a garden, park etc: · A gardener was mowing the lawn.
(also clip) to cut a small amount off something, especially to make it look neater: · He was trimming his beard.· Trim the excess fat off the meat.
Longman Language Activatorto cut someone's hair, beard, or fingernails · My sister usually cuts my hair.· I wish you wouldn't cut your fingernails in the living room.have your hair cut (=pay someone to cut it for you) · Beth's at the salon having her hair cut.
when someone cuts your hair: · Isn't it about time you had a haircut?
to cut the hair on your face or body so that your skin feels smooth: · Have you shaved today?· I didn't have time to shave my legs.shave off something/shave something off: · I wish he'd shave off that awful beard!
to cut a small amount off someone's hair or beard, so that it looks neater: · Could you just trim my hair at the back?
to cut wood, plants, or grass to make trees or bushes fall down by cutting them: cut/chop something down: · The tree was blocking the view from our window, and we asked a neighbour to chop it down.cut/chop down something: · Cutting down vast areas of the rainforests has created serious ecological problems.
to cut down trees, especially a large number of them, using special equipment: · 63 percent of trees felled in Guatemala are used for fuel.· More trees are being felled annually now than ever before.
to cut wood into pieces using an axe (=a tool with a long handle and a sharp blade): · Ivan spent the day chopping wood and sawing logs.chop something up/chop up something: · I chopped up the old fence and used it for firewood.
to cut grass or cut off leaves, in order to make a place or plant look tidy: · She had to stand on a ladder to cut the top of the hedge.cut the lawn/grass: · My dad used to cut the grass every Sunday morning.
to cut grass using a special machine, in order to make it look tidy: mow the lawn/the grass: · It took me two hours to mow the lawn.
to cut wood using a saw (=sharp tool that you push backwards and forwards across the surface of the wood): · We had to saw the wood to the right length, and then nail the pieces together.saw something up/saw up something (=into several pieces): · It took all morning to saw up the logs.
to cut off some of the branches of a tree or bush to make it grow better: · Miniature roses do not need much pruning and are ideal for planting in pots. · What's the best time of the year for pruning apple trees?
to cut small amounts off something, especially a bush, in order to make it have a neat shape or surface: · Do you think the hedge needs trimming?
to cut trees, plants etc by hitting them with a heavy knife or other sharp tool using short violent movements: hack at: · Robert was hacking at the base of the tree with an axe.hack your way through/hack a path through (=make a path by cutting down plants and trees): · They managed to hack their way through the jungle.
when a company reduces its activities, the amount it spends etc also scale back American to reduce something, such as the size of an organization or a plan, so that it is still operating but on a smaller level: scale down/back something: · European central banks have scaled down their operations in South Africa.scale something down/back: · The two companies have announced plans to scale back production next year.· Development projects were scaled down, and some proposals for new buildings were put on hold.
to reduce the numbers of something or the time or money spent on something, especially because you can no longer afford to continue at the previous level: cut back on: · Her friends know that she is under stress and have warned her to cut back on her workload.cut back something: · Our budget has been cut back this year.· Farmers have agreed to cut back wheat production.cut something back: · We have had to cut expenditure back in an effort to increase profits.
especially American to reduce the number of people who work for a company, especially in order to save money: · They are downsizing the workforce in a desperate attempt to save the firm.· Advised to rightsize its operation, the company has shrunk to 2,000 employees.
to reduce something by small amounts over a period of time so that the effect is not very serious or noticeable while it is happening: pare down something: · The company has pared down expenditure and hopes to recoup its losses this year.pare something down: · We have managed to pare our costs down to the absolute minimum.
also rationalise British to try to make a company more effective by getting rid of unnecessary workers etc: · We are a small company, and we need to rationalize if we want to compete in this market.· The company has done a lot to rationalize production.
to gradually reduce the work of a company or organization so that it can be closed down completely: wind something down: · The old sickness benefit system is slowly being wound down.wind something down: · I want to return in a few years' time - I've already started to wind the business down.
especially British to deliberately make something such as a company, an industry, or a public service weaker and weaker, by giving it less and less money: run down something: · Opposition leaders are accusing the government of running down the Health Service.run something down: · They buy up rival companies then just run them down.
to reduce something by a small amount that will not harm or change it very much, especially in order to save money: · By trimming costs and improving service the hotel has now started to make a profit again.trim something by 10% etc: · The proposed bill would trim welfare spending by $5 billion.
to reduce the costs of something such as a service or industry by employing fewer people, reducing the number of things you produce or provide etc - used especially in business contexts: · The government is once again attempting to streamline the health care service in order to pay for tax cuts.· The company announced it was to streamline its operations and close down three factories in the UK.
WORD SETSadrift, adjectiveaft, adjectiveahoy, interjectionaircraft carrier, nounamidships, adverbanchor, nounanchor, verbanchorage, nounark, nounastern, adverbballast, nounbarge, nounbargee, nounbargepole, nounbarnacle, nounbarque, nounbarrage, nounbeach, verbbeam, nounbecalmed, adjectiveberth, nounberth, verbbilge, nounbill of lading, nounbillow, nounblade, nounboat, nounboat hook, nounboathouse, nounboating, nounboatman, nounbob, verbbollard, nounboom, nounbow, nounbridge, nounbrig, nounbulkhead, nounbunk, nounbuoy, nouncabin, nouncabin boy, nouncabin class, nouncabin cruiser, nouncable, nouncanal, nouncanal boat, nouncanoe, nouncanoe, verbcapstan, nouncaptain, nouncatamaran, nouncircumnavigate, verbclipper, nouncoast, verbcoaster, nouncoastguard, nouncockpit, nouncommodore, nouncompanionway, nounconning tower, nouncoracle, nouncordage, nouncox, nouncoxswain, nouncraft, nouncrew, verbcrossing, nouncrow's nest, nouncruise, verbcruise liner, nouncruiser, nouncruise ship, nouncutter, noundeck, noundecompression chamber, nounderrick, noundinghy, noundisembark, verbdisgorge, verbdisplacement, noundock, noundock, verbdocker, noundockside, noundockyard, noundory, noundownstream, adverbdraught, noundraw, verbdrawbridge, noundredge, verbdredger, noundrift, verbdrift, noundrifter, noundriftwood, noundrilling platform, noundrown, verbdry dock, noundugout, noundyke, nounembark, verbensign, nounferry, nounferry, verbferryboat, nounfigurehead, nounfirst mate, nounfirst officer, nounfleet, nounflotilla, nounfo'c'sle, nounforecastle, nounfounder, verbfrigate, nounfrogman, noungalleon, noungalley, noungangplank, noungangway, noungondola, noungondolier, noungrappling iron, nounground, verbgunnel, noungunwale, nounhalyard, nounharbour, nounhatch, nounhawser, nounhelm, nounhelmsman, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhigh water mark, nounhold, nounhoot, nounhoot, verbhouseboat, nounhovercraft, nounhulk, nounhull, nounhydrofoil, nounhydroplane, nounhydroplane, verbicebreaker, nouninboard, adjectiveinflatable, nouninflow, nounJet Ski, nounjetty, nounjib, nounjunk, nounkayak, nounkeel, nounketch, nounknot, nounkt, land, verblanding stage, nounlane, nounlaunch, verblaunch, nounleeward, adjectivelife belt, nounlifeboat, nounlife buoy, nounlife jacket, nounlifeline, nounlife preserver, nounlife raft, nounlife vest, nounlighter, nounlighthouse, nounlightship, nounliner, nounlist, verblock, nounlock keeper, nounlog book, nounlongshoreman, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounlow water mark, nounlugger, nounmainmast, nounmainsail, nounmaritime, adjectivemast, nounmaster, nounmasthead, nounmerchantman, nounmerchant navy, nounmerchant seaman, nounminesweeper, nounmizzen, nounmoor, verbmooring, nounmother ship, nounmotorboat, nounnarrow boat, nounnautical, adjectivenavigable, adjectivenavigate, verbnavigation, nounoakum, nounoar, nounoarlock, nounoarsman, nounoarswoman, nounoceangoing, adjectiveoffshore, adjectiveoil slick, nounoil tanker, nounoutboard motor, nounoutrigger, nounoverboard, adverboyster bed, nounpacket boat, nounpaddle, nounpaddle, verbpaddle steamer, nounpassage, nounpelagic, adjectiveperiscope, nounpier, nounpilot, nounpilot, verbpitch, verbPlimsoll line, nounplot, verbply, verbpoop deck, nounport, nounporthole, nounport of call, nounpowerboat, nounprivateer, nounpromenade deck, nounpropeller, nounprow, nounpunt, nounpunt, verbpurser, nounquadrant, nounquarterdeck, nounquay, nounraft, nounrafting, nounreef, verbrefit, verbregatta, nounresurface, verbrig, verbrig, nounrigging, nounroll, verbroll, nounroll-on roll-off, adjectivero-ro, nounrow, verbrowboat, nounrowing, nounrowing boat, nounrowlock, nounrubber dinghy, nounrudder, nounsail, verbsail, nounsailboat, nounsailing, nounsailing boat, nounsailing ship, nounsailor, nounsaloon, nounsampan, nounschooner, nounscull, nounscull, verbscupper, verbscupper, nounscuttle, verbseaborne, adjectivesea captain, nounsea dog, nounseafaring, adjectiveseagoing, adjectivesea lane, nounsea legs, nounsealer, nounseaman, nounseamanship, nounseaworthy, adjectivesheet, nounship, nounshipmate, nounshipping, nounshipping lane, nounship's chandler, nounshipwreck, nounshipwright, nounshipyard, nounside-wheeler, nounskiff, nounskull and crossbones, nounslaver, nounslipway, nounsloop, nounsluice, nounsmack, nounsonar, nounspar, nounspeedboat, nounsplice, verbSS, starboard, nounsteam, verbsteamboat, nounsteamer, nounsteamship, nounsteerage, nounsteersman, nounstern, nounstevedore, nounsteward, nounstewardess, nounstoker, nounsub, nounsubmarine, nounsubmarine, adjectivesubmersible, nounsundeck, nounsupertanker, nounswab, verbswell, nounswing bridge, nountack, nountack, verbtender, nounthird class, nountiller, nountonnage, nountopside, adverbtowpath, nountransport, nountransport ship, nountrawler, nountrim, verbtrimaran, nountroopship, nountub, nountug, nounupstream, adverbvessel, nounvoyage, nounvoyage, verbwake, nounwardroom, nounwarship, nounwaterborne, adjectivewaterlogged, adjectivewaterway, nounweir, nounwhaler, nounwheelhouse, nounwhirlpool, nounwindjammer, nounwindward, adjectivewreck, nounyachting, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
We need to trim costs by £500m.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a jacket trimmed with red braid
1cut to make something look neater by cutting small pieces off it: We need to trim costs by £500m. a jacket trimmed with red braid (=cut a small amount off)· His nails were neatly trimmed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Positive curvature of edges can be trimmed away, if necessary, to give straight edges in plan.· Smooth the corners neatly and trim away any excess.· Surplus glue is easily trimmed away with a sharp knife.· Cover the cake drum, smoothing on and trimming away excess around the base.
· This will reveal any overgrowth of the claws, which will have to be trimmed back.· The Supreme Court in recent years has taken steps to trim back the ability of prisoners to file successive habeas petitions.· The resulting fall in demand also forced other companies to trim back production and lay off workers.· In February, you must trim back to a fat bud.· So please could you arrange to have the hedges trimmed back as soon as convenient.· Trailing wires can so easily be cut when trimming back hedges or mowing long grass.
· The Government said that if we worked hard and trimmed down we would survive.· The new charter, which was trimmed down to just 82 pages, replaces the chief administrative officer with a city administrator.· The arm is still oversized and can be trimmed down to join neatly on to the post.· So he started exercising regularly and eating low-calorie foods and, lo and behold, trimmed down to a svelte 290.· By trimming down the first act, they kept the pace going, and the second act benefited.
· Press down the edges to seal and trim off the excess pastry.· Gently press dough against bottom and sides of pan. Trim off excess dough and attractively crimp edges along pan rim.· To accommodate it on the upflow tube we've had to trim off another inch or so of piping with the hacksaw.· Every two months or so, have half an inch trimmed off to get rid of dryness.· He says they have a few pounds to trim off the engine but that will be achieved by Imola.
NOUN· A persistent critic of profligate government, he now has his chance to trim the deficit.
· Transfer to the drum to cover, and trim the edges.· Cut out long thin strips for trimming around the top edge of the boat and fix on with a dampened paint brush.· Cut out strips and use to cover the board, trim the edge and smooth any joins.· Press in and smooth, and trim the edges neatly.
· Almost all the banks have been steadily trimming rates over the past couple of months to boost their margins.· The central bank trimmed the discount rate to a record low 0. 5 percent in September.
VERB· Remember to keep toe-nails trim and prettily painted as you show your feet to the world.· He said the trees could remain if Pimentel kept them trimmed.· Ten minutes in the morning should keep you trim.· Thus some minds for ever keep trimming boat.· In each of those years, estate workers have had to keep it trimmed.· The clearing would have been long gone by now, but I keep it roughly trimmed.
Pete was trimming the lawn around the roses. I have my hair trimmed every six weeks.trim something away/off Trim away any excess glue with a knife.► see thesaurus at cut2reduce to reduce a number, amount, or the size of something: We need to trim costs by £500m. The bill would trim the number of immigrants to the US.trim something from/off something The company trimmed £46,000 from its advertising budget.3decorate to decorate something, especially clothes, by adding things that look prettybe trimmed with something a dress trimmed with lace At Christmas, the whole family helps trim the tree.GRAMMAR Trim is often passive in this meaning.4sail to move the sails of a boat in order to go fastertrim something ↔ back phrasal verb to make something shorter or smaller: Trim the stems back carefully. Most airlines have trimmed back their operations.trim down phrasal verb to lose weight deliberately: Anne has trimmed down from 22 stone to 18.trim1 verbtrim2 adjectivetrim3 noun
trimtrim2 adjective EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a trim suburban yard
- a trim, neatly dressed young man
- Walking to work helps her keep trim.
- Fashionable lacing on the waistband of these trousers helps to accentuate a trim figure.
- He looks trim and well turned out in a new dark suit.
- It was a trim white house with a ladder leaning against it.
- Neither one spoke now as they came up the brick walk toward the trim white Cape.
- They appear in health club ads, fit, trim and tanned, with impossibly taut abdomens.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a trim figureCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a jacket trimmed with red braid
1a person who is trim is thin in an attractive healthy way SYN slim: a trim figure a jacket trimmed with red braid (=cut a small amount off)· His nails were neatly trimmed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· She glanced up to see a familiar trim figure strolling languidly out of the entrance to the Members' Enclosure.· Fashionable lacing on the waistband of these trousers helps to accentuate a trim figure.· Men find her trim figure and neat little face with its impossibly turned-up nose, very appealing.
I play tennis to keep trim. a trim figure2neat and well cared for: trim suburban gardenstrim1 verbtrim2 adjectivetrim3 noun
trimtrim3 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Borough Hall was a brick building with white trim.
- I'm going to the barbershop to get a trim.
- Ian gave Sue's hair a trim before shampooing it.
- Ersatz wood trim out of place on a pricey sport-ute.
THESAURUS
noun [countable usually plural] something pretty that you put in a place or onto something to make it look attractive, especially for special occasions: · Half a dozen girls volunteered to put up decorations for the dance.· We're making our own Christmas decorations this year.· You could use the ribbon as a decoration.
[countable] a small pretty object that is used in a room or house to make it look more attractive: · The shelves were crammed with ornaments and souvenirs.· a glass ornament
[plural] small inexpensive objects used to decorate a room: · The shop sold cheap knick-knacks for tourists.· She had dusted all the ornaments and knick-knacks.
[countable] a small amount of food that is used to make a dish look nice or add taste to it: · Serve the fish with a garnish of lemon.
[singular, uncountable] decoration on a car, object, or piece of clothing that goes along the length of it: · a white skirt with black trim along the hem
[plural] a decoration on the edge of a piece of cloth that is made of many small folds in the cloth: · a white blouse with frills at the cuffs
[countable, uncountable] formal something that is added in order to make another thing seem more attractive: · the colourful embellishments on a medieval manuscript· His style is simple and without embellishment.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY If you want to get in trim for summer, try aerobics. My job was to keep the garden in trim.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a jacket trimmed with red braid
If you want to get in trim for summer, try aerobics. My job was to keep the garden in trim. a jacket trimmed with red braid (=cut a small amount off)· His nails were neatly trimmed.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1[singular] when something is cut to make it look neater: - All that time I've kept myself in trim.
- Fruit bushes, roses and other plants can be kept in trim with ease, keeping your garden tidy all year round.
- I need to keep my voice in trim since I still perform as a narrator.
- It is, and keeping yourself in trim is very important when you're not working.
- The 6, 000 middle-grade employees who work there are technically outstanding and in good trim.
- To this day Souness is obsessed with fitness, healthy dieting, pectoral pride and keeping his body in trim.
- You get in trim, he gets to drink more turpentine, and everybody's happy.
My beard needs a trim.2in (good) trim informal in good conditionkeep/get (something) in trim If you want to get in trim for summer, try aerobics. My job was to keep the garden in trim.3[singular, uncountable] additional decoration on a car, piece of clothing etc: suede sandals with gold trim