(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of a gun is a small lever which you pull to fire it.
A man pointed a gun at them and pulled the ~.
N-COUNT
2.
The ~ of a bomb is the device which causes it to explode.
...~ devices for nuclear weapons.
N-COUNT: oft N n
3.
To ~ a bomb or system means to cause it to work.
The thieves must have deliberately ~ed the alarm and hidden inside the house...
= activate
VERB: V n
4.
If something ~s an event or situation, it causes it to begin to happen or exist.
...the incident which ~ed the outbreak of the First World War...
VERB: V n
•
Trigger off means the same as ~ .
It is still not clear what events ~ed off the demonstrations.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
5.
If something acts as a ~ for another thing such as an illness, event, or situation, the first thing causes the second thing to begin to happen or exist.
Stress may act as a ~ for these illnesses.
N-COUNT: oft N for n