Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

tri|er /tra I ə ^r / (triers ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a trier , you approve of them because they try very hard at things that they do, although they are not often successful. [BRIT , APPROVAL ] □  He may not always achieve greatness but at least he's a trier.

tri|fle /tra I f ^ə l/ (trifles , trifling , trifled )

1 PHRASE You can use a trifle to mean slightly or to a small extent, especially in order to make something you say seem less extreme. [VAGUENESS ] □  As a photographer, he'd found both locations just a trifle disappointing.

2 N‑COUNT A trifle is something that is considered to have little importance, value, or significance. □  He had no money to spare on trifles.

3 N‑VAR Trifle is a cold dessert made of layers of sponge cake, jelly, fruit, and custard, and usually covered with cream.

▸  trifle with PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is not a person to be trifled with , you are indicating to other people that they must treat that person with respect. □ [be V -ed P ] He was not someone to be trifled with. □ [V P n] No man in Tabriz trifled with the executioner.

tri|fling /tra I fəl I ŋ/ ADJ A trifling matter is small and unimportant. □  Outside California these difficulties may seem fairly trifling. □  …a comparatively trifling 360 yards.

trig|ger ◆◇◇ /tr I gə ^r / (triggers , triggering , triggered )

1 N‑COUNT The trigger of a gun is a small lever which you pull to fire it. □  A man pointed a gun at them and pulled the trigger.

2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] The trigger of a bomb is the device which causes it to explode. □  …trigger devices for nuclear weapons.

3 VERB To trigger a bomb or system means to cause it to work. □ [V n] The thieves must have deliberately triggered the alarm and hidden inside the house.

4 VERB If something triggers an event or situation, it causes it to begin to happen or exist. □ [V n] …the incident which triggered the outbreak of the First World War. ● PHRASAL VERB Trigger off means the same as trigger . □ [V P n] It is still not clear what events triggered off the demonstrations. [Also V n P ]

5 N‑COUNT If something acts as a trigger for another thing such as an illness, event, or situation, the first thing causes the second thing to begin to happen or exist. □ [+ for ] Stress may act as a trigger for these illnesses. SYNONYMS trigger VERB

3

set off:Any escape, once it's detected, sets off the alarm.

activate:Video cameras with night vision can be activated by movement.

4

bring about:The only way they can bring about political change is by putting pressure on the country.

provoke:His election success has provoked a shocked reaction.

spark:What was it that sparked your interest in motoring?

tri gger-ha ppy also trigger happy ADJ If you describe someone as trigger-happy , you disapprove of them because they are too ready and willing to use violence and weapons, especially guns. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  Some of them are a bit trigger-happy–they'll shoot at anything that moves.

trigo|nom|etry /tr I gənɒ m I tri/ N‑UNCOUNT Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that is concerned with calculating the angles of triangles or the lengths of their sides.

trike /tra I k/ (trikes ) N‑COUNT A trike is a child's tricycle . [INFORMAL ]

tril|by /tr I lbi/ (trilbies ) N‑COUNT A trilby or a trilby hat is a man's hat which is made of felt and has a groove along the top from front to back. [BRIT ]

trill /tr I l/ (trills , trilling , trilled )