| / English Dictionary |
TRIMMING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of adding decoration
Example:
the children had to be in bed before it was time for the trimming of the tree
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("trimming" is a kind of...):
decoration (the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Cutting down to the desired size or shape
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("trimming" is a kind of...):
cut; cutting; cutting off (the act of shortening something by chopping off the ends)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trimming"):
pruning (the act of trimming a plant)
Derivation:
trim (cut closely)
trim (cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A decoration or adornment on a garment
Example:
the trim on a shirt
Synonyms:
passementerie; trim; trimming
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("trimming" is a kind of...):
adornment (a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trimming"):
braid; braiding; gold braid (trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains)
miniver (trimming on ceremonial robes consisting of white or light grey fur)
rickrack; ricrac (a narrow zigzag ribbon used as trimming)
Derivation:
trim (decorate, as with ornaments)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb trim
Context examples:
We are getting too fine for our work with these new-fangled epaulettes and quarter-deck trimmings.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Oh! And that's all about it, is it?” she exclaimed, trimming his whiskers with a little restless pair of scissors, that went glancing round his head in all directions.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Let me but escape into my laboratory door, give me but a second or two to mix and swallow the draught that I had always standing ready; and whatever he had done, Edward Hyde would pass away like the stain of breath upon a mirror; and there in his stead, quietly at home, trimming the midnight lamp in his study, a man who could afford to laugh at suspicion, would be Henry Jekyll.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
On one side of him sat old Johnston, who was busy in trimming the feathers of some arrows to his liking; and on the other Hordle John, who lay with his great limbs all asprawl, and his headpiece balanced upon his uplifted foot.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Seen now, in broad daylight, she looked tall, fair, and shapely; brown eyes with a benignant light in their irids, and a fine pencilling of long lashes round, relieved the whiteness of her large front; on each of her temples her hair, of a very dark brown, was clustered in round curls, according to the fashion of those times, when neither smooth bands nor long ringlets were in vogue; her dress, also in the mode of the day, was of purple cloth, relieved by a sort of Spanish trimming of black velvet; a gold watch (watches were not so common then as now) shone at her girdle.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Yes, I know exactly what you will say: Friday, went to the Lower Rooms; wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue trimmings—plain black shoes—appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
Everything was good, well made, and little worn, but Amy's artistic eyes were much afflicted, especially this winter, when her school dress was a dull purple with yellow dots and no trimming.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I have some notion of putting such a trimming as this to my white and silver poplin.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Next to him sat two other men of about the same age, one with a trimming of fur to his coat, which gave him a dignity which was evidently dearer to him than his comfort, for he still drew it round him in spite of the hot glare of the faggots.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
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