n. & v.
--n.
1. difficulty or distress; vexation, affliction (am having trouble with my car).
2 a inconvenience; unpleasant exertion; bother (went to a lot of trouble). b a cause of this (the child was no trouble).
3 a cause of annoyance or concern (the trouble with you is that you can't say no).
4 a faulty condition or operation (kidney trouble; engine trouble).
5 a fighting, disturbance (crowd trouble; don't want any trouble). b (in pl.) political or social unrest, public disturbances.
6 disagreement, strife (is having trouble at home).
--v.
1. tr. cause distress or anxiety to; disturb (were much troubled by their debts).
2 intr. be disturbed or worried (don't trouble about it).
3 tr. afflict; cause pain etc. to (am troubled with arthritis).
4 tr. & intr. (often refl.) subject or be subjected to inconvenience or unpleasant exertion (sorry to trouble you; don't trouble yourself; don't trouble to explain).
Phrases and idioms:
ask (or look) for trouble colloq. invite trouble or difficulty by one's actions, behaviour, etc.; behave rashly or indiscreetly. be no trouble cause no inconvenience etc. go to the trouble (or some trouble etc.) exert oneself to do something. in trouble 1 involved in a matter likely to bring censure or punishment.
2 colloq. pregnant while unmarried. take trouble (or the trouble) exert oneself to do something. trouble and strife rhymingsl. wife. trouble spot a place where difficulties regularly occur.
Derivatives:
troubler n.
Etymology: ME f. OF truble (n.), trubler, turbler (v.) ult. f. L turbidus TURBID