[trim] vb trimmed ; trim.ming [prob. fr. (assumed) ME trimmen to prepare, put in order, fr. OE trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, fr. trum strong, firm; prob. akin to OE treo tree, wood--more at tree] vt (ca. 1521) 1: to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments "~ the Christmas tree" "the coat was trimmed with fur"
2. a: to administer a beating to: thrash b: defeat "trimmed me at chess" 3 a: to make trim and neat esp. by cutting or clipping "~ the hedges" b: to free of excess or extraneous matter by or as if by cutting "~ a budget" "~ down the inventory" c: to remove by or as if by cutting "trimmed thousands from federal payrolls --Grit"
4. a (1): to cause (as a ship) to assume a desirable position in the water by arrangement of ballast, cargo, or passengers (2): to adjust (as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward b: to adjust (as cargo or a sail) to a desired position
5: to adjust (as one's opinions) for reasons of expediency--often used in the phrase trim one's sails ~ vi 1 a: to maintain neutrality between opposing parties or to favor each equally b: to change one's views for reasons of expediency
2: to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water "a boat that ~s badly" -- trim one's sails : to adjust oneself or one's actions to prevailing conditions
[2]trim adj trim.mer ; trim.mest (ca. 1521) 1 obs: excellent, fine
2: ready for service or use; also: in good physical condition "keeps ~ by jogging"
3: exhibiting neatness, good order, or compactness of line or structure "~ houses" -- trim.ly adv -- trim.ness n [3]trim adv (1529): in a trim manner: trimly--used chiefly in combination "the trim-cut forest vistas --W. M. Thackeray" [4]trim n (1590) 1: suitable or excellent condition "tries to keep in ~"
2. a: one's clothing or appearance b: material used for ornament or trimming c: the lighter woodwork in the finish of a building esp. around openings d: the interior furnishings of an automobile 3 a: the position of a ship or boat esp. with reference to the horizontal; also: the difference between the draft of a ship forward and that aft b: the relation between the plane of a sail and the direction of the ship c: the buoyancy status of a submarine d: the attitude of a lighter-than-air craft relative to a fore-and-aft horizontal plane e: the attitude with respect to wind axes at which an airplane will continue in level flight with free controls
4: something that is trimmed off or cut out
5: a haircut that neatens a previous haircut