I. ˈtrə-bəl verb
( trou·bled ; trou·bling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trubler, from Vulgar Latin * turbulare, from * turbulus agitated, alteration of Latin turbulentus — more at turbulent
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to agitate mentally or spiritually : worry , disturb
b.
(1) archaic : mistreat , oppress
(2) : to produce physical disorder in : afflict
troubled by a cold
c. : to put to exertion or inconvenience
I'm sorry to trouble you
2. : to put into confused motion
the wind troubled the sea
intransitive verb
1. : to become mentally agitated : worry
refused to trouble over trifles
2. : to make an effort : be at pains
did not trouble to come
• trou·bler -b(ə-)lər noun
II. noun
Date: 13th century
1. : the quality or state of being troubled especially mentally
2. : public unrest or disturbance
there's trouble brewing downtown
3. : an instance of trouble
used to disguise her frustrations and despair by making light of her trouble s — Current Biography
4. : a state or condition of distress, annoyance, or difficulty
in trouble with the law
heading for trouble
got into financial trouble
as
a. : a condition of physical distress or ill health : ailment
back trouble
heart trouble
b. : a condition of mechanical malfunction
engine trouble
c. : a condition of doing something badly or only with great difficulty
has trouble reading
has trouble breathing
d. : pregnancy out of wedlock
got a girl in trouble
5. : an effort made : pains
took the trouble to do it right
6.
a. : a cause of distress, annoyance, or inconvenience
don't mean to be any trouble
what's the trouble ?
b. : a negative feature : drawback
the trouble with you is you're too honest
the main trouble with electronic systems is the overreliance on them — John Perham
c. : the unhappy or sad fact
the trouble is, I need the money