[true] adj tru.er ; tru.est [ME trewe, fr. OE treowe faithful; akin to OHG gitriuwi faithful, OIr derb sure, and prob. to Skt daruna hard, daru wood--more at tree] (bef. 12c) 1 a: steadfast, loyal b: honest, just c archaic: truthful
2. a (1): being in accordance with the actual state of affairs "~ description" (2): conformable to an essential reality (3): fully realized or fulfilled "dreams come ~" b: ideal, essential c: being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed "the ~ dimension of the problem" d: consistent "~ to character" 3 a: properly so called "~ love" "the ~ faith" "the ~ stomach of ruminant mammals" b (1): possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as "a whale is a ~ but not a typical mammal" (2): typical "the ~ cats"
4: legitimate, rightful "our ~ and lawful king"
5. a: that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately b: conformable to a standard or pattern: accurate
6: determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles "~ north" 7: logically necessary 8: narrow, strict "in the truest sense" 9: corrected for error -- true.ness n
[2]true adv (14c) 1: in accordance with fact or reality
2. a: without deviation "the bullet flew straight and ~" b: without variation from type "breed ~" [3]true n (1812) 1: truth, reality--usu. used with the
2: the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment)--used in the phrases in true and out of true [4]true vt trued ; true.ing also tru.ing (1841): to make level, square, balanced, or concentric: bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form "~ up a board" "~ up an engine cylinder"