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trim

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trim¹

  • /ˈtɹɪm/ Australia, US, UK
  • [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪm] ~ [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɪm] Australia, US, UK
  • /ˈtɹɘm/ New Zealand
  • [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɘm] ~ [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɘm] New Zealand
  • /ˈtɾɪm/ Scotland, Wales

Rhymes with -ɪm

Where it comes from

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman (“to make firm; strengthen”), from Proto-West Germanic *trummjan, from Proto-Germanic *trumjaną (“to make fast; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumaz (“firm; strong; sound”).

verb trims · trimming · trimmed

  1. transitive To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess. He trimmed his beard before the interview.
  2. transitive To decorate or adorn; especially of a Christmas tree. They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.
  3. transitive, of an aircraft To adjust the positions of control surfaces, sometimes using trim tabs, so as to modify or eliminate the aircraft's tendency to pitch, roll, or yaw when the cockpit controls are released.
  4. transitive, of a vessel To modify the angle relative to the water by shifting cargo or ballast; to adjust for sailing; to assume, or cause to assume a certain position, or trim, in the water. The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her to lie a little more evenly.
  5. transitive, of a vessel's sails To modify the angle (of the sails) relative to the wind, especially to set them at the most advantageous angle.
  6. dated To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each.
  7. transitive To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust. The hermit trimmed his little fire.
  8. transitive, of timber To dress; to make smooth.
  9. dated, transitive To rebuke; to reprove.
  10. dated, transitive To beat or thrash.
  11. historical, transitive To cut back the wick of (a lamp) to maintain a clean, bright flame. The lamp, or candle, which lights the binnacle, is placed in the cabin, of course the expence of one light is saved, and all the inconveniences of blowing out in a squally night, and likewise the trouble of trimming the lamp, are avoided.
  12. broadly, transitive To change the carbon rods of (an arc lamp). To trim an arc lamp, first remove the old carbons and carefully and thoroughly wipe the carbon rods, holders, &c. with a clean, dry rag. […] Having cleaned the rods, next wipe out the globe and get ready the fresh carbons.

noun trims

  1. uncountable Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders. Paint the house white with blue trim.
  2. countable A haircut, especially a moderate one to touch up an existing style. I went to the hairdresser for a trim but came back nearly bald.
  3. countable, uncountable Dress; gear; ornaments. It was the Winter wilde. While the Heav’n-born-childe, All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies: Nature in aw to him Had doff't her gawdy trim, With her great Maſter ſo to ſympathize: It was no ſeaſon then for her To wanton with the Sun her luſty Paramour.
  4. countable The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition. to be in good trim
  5. countable, especially, uncountable Features optionally available on a vehicle; an established configuration of such features within a model (a trim level). Holonyms: make; model

    Similar: submodel

  6. uncountable, of an aircraft The state of adjustment of control surfaces such that the desired attitude can be maintained without requiring the continuous application of force to the cockpit controls.
  7. broadly, uncountable The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.
  8. mildly, slang, uncountable, vulgar The female genitalia.
  9. broadly, mildly, slang, uncountable, vulgar Sexual intercourse with a woman. "Take me somewhere." His response lacked dignity, but in fairness to him I admit that I had left him little chance to be suave. He asked, "You mean, you’re going to give me some trim?"
  10. countable, uncountable The fore-and-aft angle of the vessel to the water, with reference to the cargo and ballast; the manner in which a vessel floats on the water, whether on an even keel or down by the head or stern.
  11. countable, uncountable The arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.
  12. countable, uncountable Any of the three cut edges of book pages, trimmed with a shear after binding.
  13. uncountable The horizontal position of an underwater diver

adjective trimmer · trimmest

  1. Physically fit. He goes jogging every day to keep in trim.
  2. Slender, lean. a trim figure
  3. Neat or smart in appearance. a trim lawn

adverb

  1. not comparable In good order; properly managed or maintained.
  2. not comparable With sails well trimmed.

Trim²

proper noun Trims

  1. A surname.

TRIM³

noun TRIMs

  1. abbreviation, acronym Acronym of trade-related investment measure

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: cut back, reduce, bring down, thin, lean, lop, clip, cut down, spare, clipping, snip, cut, plain, tidy, shipshape, well-kept

Translations

Every language

verb to modify the angle of a ship relative to the water

Русскийнакренить nakrenitʹ
עבריתַשִׁפֵּע shipe'a

verb to reduce slightly

Españolrecortar, podar, mondar, escamondar, escamujar, atusar
中文修剪 xiūjiǎn, 修整 xiūzhěng
Portuguêscortar, podar, aparar
Françaistailler
Deutschkürzen, nachschneiden, schneiden, stutzen, zurückschneiden
Italianotagliare, accorciare
Românătăia, tunde, ajusta
Русскийобре́зать obrézatʹ, сократи́ть sokratítʹ, подстри́чь podstríčʹ
العربيةشَذَّبَ šaḏḏaba, قَلَّمَ qallama

verb to decorate

Españolorlar, ribetear
中文点缀 diǎnzhuì
Portuguêsdecorar
Deutschschmücken, stutzen
Italianodecorare
Русскийнаряжать narjažatʹ

verb to adjust the positions of control surfaces, sometimes using trim tabs

Françaiscompenser

verb to adjust sails

Deutschtrimmen
Italianobordare, orientare
Русскийперекладывать perekladyvatʹ

noun the manner in which something is equipped

DeutschVerkleidung, Ausstattung, Innenausstattung

noun the manner in which a vessel floats

Françaisassiette
Italianoassetto (nave-aereo)
עבריתשֹׁפַע shofa

noun decoration placed along edges or borders

Españolribete, orla, orladura, cenefa, festón
Portuguêsremate

noun a moderate haircut

Italianospuntata (capelli-barba-baffi), sforbiciata

noun the state of adjustment of control surfaces such that the desired attitude can be maintained

Françaiscompensation

noun the mechanism used to trim an aircraft

Françaiscompensateur

noun arrangement of sails relative to the wind

DeutschTrimm, Segeltrimmung
Italianoorientamento

adj fit

Deutschfit
Italianoin forma

adj slender, lean

Deutschschlank
Italianosnello

adj neat, smart appearance

Deutschgepflegt
Русскийопря́тный oprjátnyj

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Cite this
MLA

"trim." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/trim. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

trim. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/trim

Chicago

"trim." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/trim.

BibTeX
@misc{trim_2026,
  title = {trim},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/trim},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}