English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Trey

noun

A playing card, die face, or domino showing the number three.

tri

noun

(informal) Short for triathlon.

triad

noun

A group or set of three closely related people or things.

triage

noun

The process of sorting people or things by urgency or importance to decide what gets attention first.

trial

noun

A formal examination of evidence in court to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime or liable in a dispute.

triangle

noun

A flat shape with three straight sides and three angles.

triangular

adj

Having the shape of a triangle.

triangulate

verb

To find the exact location of something by measuring angles from two or more known points.

triangulation

noun

A method of finding an unknown location or distance using angles measured from known points.

triathlon

noun

An endurance sporting event combining swimming, cycling, and running, completed one after another.

tribal

adj

Relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes.

tribe

noun

A social group made up of related families or clans, often sharing language, culture, and territory.

Tribeca

name

A neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, whose name is an abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street."

tribunal

noun

A panel or court, often with one or more judges, set up to hear and decide legal or formal disputes.

tribune

noun

An elected official in ancient Rome who represented and protected the interests of ordinary citizens.

tribute

noun

Something said, done, or given to show respect or admiration for someone.

triceratops

noun

A large plant-eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, known for its three facial horns and bony neck frill.

Tricia

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Patricia, meaning "noble" or "patrician."

trick

noun

An action meant to deceive, fool, or outsmart someone.

trickery

noun

The use of deceit or clever schemes to mislead or cheat someone.

tricking

adj

Deceptive; using trickery to fool someone.

trickle

noun

A thin, slow flow of liquid, or the small amount that flows this way.

trickling

noun

A slow, thin flow, or the sound it makes.

trickster

noun

A mythological or folklore figure who uses cunning and mischief to outwit authority or other characters.

tricky

adj

Difficult to handle or figure out because of hidden complications.

tricorder

noun

A fictional handheld scanning device from science fiction, used to analyze the environment or a patient's health.

tricycle

noun

A three-wheeled, pedal-powered vehicle, usually ridden by young children.

trident

noun

A spear with three prongs, similar to a pitchfork.

tried

adj

Tested repeatedly and proven to be reliable.

trier

noun

Someone who keeps making an effort, even without guaranteed success.

Trieste

name

A port city in northeastern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea near the border with Slovenia.

trifecta

noun

A bet where you must correctly pick the first three finishers of a race, in order.

trifle

noun

A British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream.

trifling

adj

Of very little importance or value.

trig

noun

Short for trigonometry.

trigger

noun

The small lever pulled with a finger to fire a gun.

triggered

adj

Set off or activated by a specific condition.

triggering

adj

Causing an event, reaction, or process to start.

trigonometry

noun

The branch of mathematics dealing with the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles.

trilby

noun

A soft felt hat with a narrow brim, dented lengthwise along the crown.

trill

noun

A rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes.

trilling

noun

The act of making a trilling sound.

trillion

num

A million million: 1 followed by twelve zeros (10¹²), the standard modern meaning.

trilogy

noun

A set of three related works, such as novels or films, connected by story, characters, or theme.

trim

verb

To cut away excess from something to neaten it.

Trimble

name

An English surname, historically a variant of "trundle" or associated with a diligent, active person.

trimester

noun

A period of about three months, especially one of the three stages of pregnancy.

trimmed

adj

Having had excess cut away; neatened up.

trimmer

noun

A tool used for cutting or neatening something, such as hair or hedges.

trimming

noun

The act of cutting away excess to neaten something.

trimmings

noun

The extra items that traditionally go alongside a meal.

Trina

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Katrina or Trinity.

trine

adj

Threefold; made up of three parts.

Trini

noun

Informal term for a person from Trinidad.

Trinidad

name

A Caribbean island, part of the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

trinity

noun

A group of three closely connected people or things treated as a single unit.

trinket

noun

A small decorative item, especially cheap jewelry, valued more for looks than worth.

trio

noun

A group of three people or things.

trip

noun

A journey, especially for pleasure or a specific purpose.

Tripathi

name

An Indian surname common among Brahmins, indicating descent from someone versed in three Vedic texts.

tripe

noun

The stomach lining of a cow or other ruminant animal, prepared and eaten as food.

triple

adjective

Made up of three parts, or three times the usual amount.

triplicate

verb

To make three identical copies of something.

tripod

noun

A three-legged stand used to support a camera, telescope, or similar equipment.

Tripoli

noun

A soft, powdery rock made from the fossilized shells of tiny algae, used as a fine abrasive for polishing metal and stone.

Tripp

name

A masculine given name and English surname, originally a nickname for a third-born son or someone who traveled frequently.

tripping

adjective

Light, quick, and nimble in movement.

trippy

adjective

Strange and surreal, like the visual effects of a hallucinogenic drug.

TRIPS

name

A nickname, often short for "Triple" or given to a third child in a family, sometimes also used as a surname.

tris

noun

A chemical compound (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane) commonly used in laboratories as a buffering agent.

Trish

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Patricia, meaning "noble."

Trisha

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Trisha derived from Patricia.

trite

adjective

Overused to the point of being boring or meaningless; unoriginal.

triton

noun

The nucleus of a tritium atom, made up of one proton and two neutrons.

triumph

noun

A great success or victory after overcoming difficulty.

triumphal

adjective

Relating to, or celebrating, a triumph or victory.

triumphant

adjective

Having won, or feeling and showing great pride in a victory.

triumphantly

adverb

In a way that shows pride or joy in victory.

trivia

noun

Small, unimportant facts or details, often obscure ones.

trivial

adjective

Of little importance or significance.

Trix

name

A feminine given name, a pet form of Beatrix or Beatrice, meaning "she who brings happiness."

Trixie

noun

Slang for an affluent, image-conscious young woman.

trod

verb

Past tense of "tread" — to walk on or over something, often heavily.

trog

noun

A lout or unruly troublemaker (British slang).

Troi

name

A surname and given name, notably used for the character Deanna Troi in the Star Trek franchise.

trojan

noun

A type of malicious computer program disguised as something harmless or useful.

troll

noun

In folklore, a large, often ugly supernatural creature living in caves, hills, or under bridges.

trolley

noun

A small cart pushed by hand, used for carrying shopping, luggage, or food and drink.

trolling

noun

The act of posting deliberately provocative content online to upset people or derail discussion.

trollop

noun

An old-fashioned, disparaging term for a promiscuous or disreputable woman.

trombone

noun

A brass instrument with a sliding tube used to change pitch.

Tron

name

A name best known as the title of a science-fiction film about a computer programmer transported into a digital world.

troop

noun

A group of soldiers, or (in the plural) military forces generally.

trooper

noun

A soldier, especially one in a cavalry or armoured unit, or a state police officer (US).

troops

noun

Soldiers, especially as a collective military force.

trophy

noun

An object, such as a cup or statuette, awarded for winning a competition.

tropic

noun

Either of the two lines of latitude, north or south of the equator, marking the edge of the tropical zone (Tropic of Cancer / Tropic of Capricorn).

tropical

adjective

Relating to, or typical of, the hot and humid region near the equator.

tropics

noun

The hot region of the Earth around the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

trot

noun

A pace faster than a walk but slower than a run, especially for a horse.

troth

noun

A solemn pledge or promise, especially one of loyalty or fidelity.

Trotsky

name

A Russian surname, most famously borne by Leon Trotsky, the revolutionary and Soviet political theorist.

trotter

noun

The foot of a pig or sheep, especially when cooked and eaten.

trotting

noun

A form of harness racing in which horses pull a light cart at a trot rather than a gallop.

troubadour

noun

A traveling poet-musician of medieval Europe who composed and performed songs, often about courtly love.

trouble

noun

A difficult, worrying, or dangerous situation or problem.

troubled

adj

Anxious, worried, or burdened by difficulties.

troublemaker

noun

Someone who deliberately causes problems or stirs up conflict.

Troubles

name

A historical name, "the Troubles," referring to the decades-long ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998.

troublesome

adj

Causing repeated difficulty, worry, or annoyance.

troubling

adj

Causing worry, distress, or unease.

trough

noun

A long, open container used to hold food or water for animals.

troupe

noun

A group of performers, such as actors, singers, or dancers, who work together.

trouper

noun

A reliable, hardworking person who keeps going despite difficulty, especially without complaint.

trouser

adj

Relating to or used with trousers.

trousers

noun

A garment covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with a separate section for each leg.

trousseau

noun

The clothes, linens, and other items a bride traditionally collects for her marriage.

trout

noun

A freshwater fish related to salmon, popular for both eating and sport fishing.

trove

noun

A valuable collection of things, especially one that has been discovered.

trowel

noun

A small handheld tool with a flat or scoop-shaped blade, used for spreading mortar or digging in a garden.

Troy

adj

Describing the traditional system of weights used for precious metals and gemstones, in which a pound equals twelve ounces rather than sixteen.

truant

noun

A student who stays away from school without permission.

truce

noun

A temporary agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting.

truck

noun

A large motor vehicle used for carrying goods.

trucker

noun

A person who drives a truck for a living, especially over long distances.

trucking

noun

The business or activity of transporting goods by truck.

truckload

noun

The full amount of cargo a truck can carry.

Trudi

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Gertrude, meaning "spear of strength."

Trudy

name

A feminine given name, an alternate spelling of Trudi, a short form of Gertrude.

true

adj

Matching the actual facts; correct or accurate.

Trujillo

name

A Spanish surname and the name of a city in Peru, also borne by the Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.

truly

adv

In accordance with fact; accurately or honestly.

Truman

name

A masculine given name and surname meaning "trusty man" or "faithful man," borne by U.S. President Harry Truman.

Trumbo

name

An American surname, notably borne by screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

Trumbull

name

An English surname and place name, also the name of towns in Connecticut and elsewhere in the United States.

trump

noun

In card games, a suit chosen (or turned up) to rank higher than the other three for that hand.

trumpet

noun

A brass musical instrument played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece, typically with valves to change pitch.

trumpeter

noun

A person who plays the trumpet.

trumpeting

noun

The act of playing a trumpet, or the loud cry made by an elephant or similar animal.

trumpets

noun

Plural of trumpet, the brass instrument.

trumps

noun

The suit that beats every other suit in a card game.

truncheon

noun

A short heavy stick used as a weapon, especially the baton carried by police.

trunk

verb

To cut something short or reduce it drastically.

trunks

noun

Short, close-fitting shorts worn for sports or swimming.

Truro

name

A city in Cornwall, England, and towns of the same name in Canada and Massachusetts.

Truscott

name

An English surname, likely derived from a place name meaning "cottage by the tree stump."

truss

noun

A supportive belt or bandage worn to hold a hernia in place.

trust

noun

Firm belief in the reliability or honesty of someone or something.

trusted

adjective

Regarded as reliable and honest; relied upon with confidence.

trustee

noun

A person or organisation legally responsible for managing property or money on behalf of someone else.