trim

B1 Topic:Numbers & Quantity

US /tɹɪm/ See IPA manual

Freq #9673

Meanings

1

verb
To cut a small amount off something to make it neat or shorter.

He trimmed his beard before the interview.
2

verb
To decorate something, especially with small ornaments.

They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.
3

noun
A decoration added to the edge of clothing or an object.

The coat had a fur trim around the hood.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to cut a small amount off... shave

3 noun · a decoration added to the... trimming

Word family

Forms trimlytrimmedtrimmertrimmesttrimmingtrimmingstrims

Derived forms betrimmistrimretrimtrim-tram

Etymology

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”).

trimen Middle English trymman Old English *trummjan Proto-West Germanic *trumjaną Proto-Germanic *trumaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

External links

# trim

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /tɹɪm/
**Frequency rank:** 9673

## Meanings
1. To cut a small amount off something to make it neat or shorter.
2. To decorate something, especially with small ornaments.
3. A decoration added to the edge of clothing or an object.

## Examples
- He trimmed his beard before the interview.
- They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.
- The coat had a fur trim around the hood.

## Derived Forms
- betrim
- mistrim
- retrim
- trim-tram

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: trimen
- Root: trymman
- Root: *trummjan
- Root: *trumjaną
- Root: *trumaz

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
Trim is 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”). The historical line also includes Middle English trimen, Old English trymman, Proto-West Germanic *trummjan, Proto-Germanic *trumjaną, Proto-Germanic *trumaz. In present-day use, it can mean to cut a small amount off something to make it neat or shorter, or to decorate something, especially with small ornaments.

## Topics
- Numbers & Quantity

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trim

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