I. ˈtrəbəl verb
( troubled ; troubled ; troubling -b(ə)liŋ ; troubles )
Etymology: Middle English troublen, troblen, from Old French troubler, tourbler, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin turbulare, from Latin turbidare to trouble, make turbid, from turbidus disordered, troubled, turbid — more at turbid
transitive verb
1.
a. : to agitate mentally or spiritually : bring distress or uncertainty of mind to : worry , bother
sorrows that trouble the strongest spirit
her failure to remember the address troubled her
b.
(1) archaic : to do harm to : mistreat , oppress
(2) : to produce physical disorder in : cause physical distress or suffering to
troubled with increasing deafness
severe pain continued to trouble her
c. : to put to exertion or inconvenience usually by asking some service
did not want to trouble her sister with the care of the children
trouble you to pass the butter
2.
a. : to put into confused motion : cause to become turbulent or turbid through moving
a strong wind troubled and ruffled the sea
b. archaic : to interfere with or bring into disorder : check , disarrange
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become mentally agitated : worry , bother
a man who refuses to trouble over trifles
b. : to make an effort : be at pains
the will to trouble infinitely with the problems of his position
2. obsolete : to become physically agitated (as of water) : become obscured or dark (as of the sky)
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French trouble, tourble, from troubler, tourbler to trouble
1. : the quality or state of being troubled : uneasiness , annoyance ; also : an instance of distress, annoyance, or perturbation
2. : a cause of disturbance, annoyance, or distress (as an annoying or injurious event or experience): as
a. : civil disorder : public unrest or demonstrations of dissatisfaction
watched with concern the trouble in the neighboring state
labor trouble
b. : an effort made : exertion , pains
took the trouble to call and inquire after his aunt
c.
(1) : a condition of physical distress, debility, or ill health
(2) : disease , ailment
(3) dialect England : labor in childbirth
d. : pregnancy out of wedlock
get a girl in trouble
e. : a personal characteristic that is a handicap or a source of distress
his greatest trouble was a too-trusting nature
3. : one (as a person) that is a source of distress, disturbance, and especially inconvenience
never meant to be such a trouble to her sister
Synonyms: see effort