trigger
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trigger
- /ˈtɹɪɡə/ UK
- [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪɡə] UK
- [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɪɡə] UK
- /ˈtɹɪɡɚ/ US
- [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪɡɚ] ~ [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪɡɹ̩] US
- [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɪɡɚ] ~ [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɪɡɹ̩] US
Rhymes with -ɪɡə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Originally tricker, from Dutch trekker (“pull”, noun, as in drawer-pull, bell-pull), from Dutch trekken (“to drag, draw, pull”).
noun triggers · tricker
- A finger-operated lever used to fire a gun. Just pull the trigger.
- A similar device used to activate any mechanism.
- An event that initiates others, or incites a response. Sleeping in an unfamiliar room can be a trigger for sleepwalking.
- Something that triggers an ASMR response.
- A cue that triggers a posthypnotic suggestion.
-
A concept or image that upsets somebody by sparking a negative emotional response.
emotional trigger
Opposite: glimmer
- An event, experience or other stimulus that initiates a traumatic memory or a strong reaction in a person.
- An electronic transducer allowing a drum, cymbal, etc. to control an electronic drum unit or similar device.
- A device that manually lengthens (or sometimes shortens) the slide or tubing of a brass instrument, allowing the pitch range to be altered while playing.
- A pulse in an electronic circuit that initiates some component.
- An SQL procedure that may be initiated when a record is inserted, updated or deleted; typically used to maintain referential integrity.
- A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.
- An argument whose semantic role determines the choice of a verbal affix, in certain Austronesian languages.
verb triggers · triggering · triggered
- To fire (a weapon); to set off or trip (a mechanism or function of a device). A U235 bomb would therefore need to incorporate a gun weighing ten tons. Then there was the question of initiating or triggering the bomb.
-
To cause, to precipitate, to bring (something) about in response or as a result.
The controversial article triggered a deluge of angry letters from readers.
Similar: precipitate, set off, cause, activate, initiate
-
To spark a response, especially a negative emotional response, in (a person).
This story contains a rape scene and may be triggering for rape victims.
Similar: push someone's buttons
- To activate; to become active. Sodium nitrite (750 ppm) was added after the alarm triggered at three hours, and corrosion did not occur for over eight hours.
adjective
- comparative form of trig: more trig
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: spark, spark off, trip, touch off, set off, actuate, activate, initiation, induction, gun trigger, trigger off, gun, shooter, shoot, launcher, fuze
Translations
Every language
noun event that initiates others, or incites a response
| Español | desencadenante |
|---|---|
| Português | gatilho |
| Français | activateur |
| Deutsch | Auslöser |
| Italiano | innesco, detonatore |
| Ελληνικά | έναυσμα énafsma |
| Русский | три́ггер trígger |
noun finger-operated lever used to fire a gun
| Español | gatillo, perrillo, disparador, disparadero |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 방아쇠 bang'asoe |
| 日本語 | 引き金 hikigane, 鉷, トリガー |
| 中文 | 扳機 /扳机 bānjī |
| Português | gatilho |
| Français | détente, gâchette |
| Deutsch | Abzug |
| Italiano | grilletto |
| Ελληνικά | σκανδάλη skandáli |
| Română | trăgaci |
| Русский | спусково́й крючо́к spuskovój krjučók, куро́к kurók, гаше́тка gašétka, соба́чка sobáčka, спуск spusk, три́ггер trígger |
| Tiếng Việt | cò |
| العربية | زِنَاد zinād |
| עברית | הֶדֶק hédek |
noun similar device used to activate any mechanism
| Português | gatilho |
|---|---|
| Français | actionneur |
| Deutsch | Auslöser |
| Italiano | levetta |
| Ελληνικά | σκανδάλη skandáli |
| Русский | три́ггер trígger, спуск spusk |
noun concept or image that sparks a negative emotional response
| Português | gatilho |
|---|---|
| Русский | три́ггер trígger |
noun psychology: stimulus that initiates a traumatic memory or action
| Português | gatilho |
|---|---|
| Русский | три́ггер trígger, и́мпульс ímpulʹs, побужде́ние pobuždénije |
noun pulse in an electronic circuit that initiates some component
| Español | desencadenante |
|---|---|
| Português | gatilho |
| Italiano | impulso |
noun SQL procedure
| 한국어 | 트리거 teurigeo |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | トリガ toriga |
| 中文 | 觸發器 /触发器 chùfāqì |
| Português | trigger |
| Русский | три́ггер trígger |
noun online gaming: text string that causes the player to execute a certain command
| Português | trigger |
|---|
verb to fire a weapon
| Español | gatillar, chejear |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 쏘다 ssoda, 발포(發砲)하다 balpohada, 발사(發射)하다 balsahada |
| Português | apertar o gatilho, atirar |
| Italiano | premere il grilletto |
| Ελληνικά | πυροδοτώ pyrodotó |
verb to initiate something
| Español | desencadenar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 일으키다 ireukida, 촉발(觸發)시키다 chokbalsikida, 유발(誘發)하다 yubalhada |
| Português | ativar, desencadear |
| Français | déclencher |
| Deutsch | auslösen, triggern |
| Italiano | innescare, accendere la miccia, attivare, provocare, scatenare |
| Ελληνικά | πυροδοτώ pyrodotó |
verb to spark a response, especially a negative emotional response, in (someone)
| Español | alterar, desencadenar, repatear |
|---|---|
| Português | desencadear, dar gatilho |
| Français | être évocateur ; déchaîner |
Talk about this word "trigger." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/trigger. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. trigger. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/trigger "trigger." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/trigger.Cite this
@misc{trigger_2026,
title = {trigger},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/trigger},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
