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trigger - 8 dictionary results

trig⋅ger

  [trig-er]
Use trigger in a Sentence
–noun
1. a small projecting tongue in a firearm that, when pressed by the finger, actuates the mechanism that discharges the weapon.
2. a device, as a lever, the pulling or pressing of which releases a detent or spring.
3. anything, as an act or event, that serves as a stimulus and initiates or precipitates a reaction or series of reactions.
4. Slang. triggerman.
–verb (used with object)
5. to initiate or precipitate (a chain of events, scientific reaction, psychological process, etc.): Their small protest triggered a mass demonstration.
6. to fire or explode (a gun, missile, etc.) by pulling a trigger or releasing a triggering device: He accidentally triggered his rifle.
–verb (used without object)
7. to release a trigger.
8. to become active; activate.
—Idiom
9. quick on the trigger, Informal. quick to act or respond; impetuous; alert.
Origin:
1615–25; earlier tricker < D trekker, equiv. to trekk(en) to pull + -er -er 1

trig

2  [trig] ,adjective, verb, trigged, trig⋅ging.
–adjective Chiefly British.
1. neat, trim, smart, or spruce.
2. in good physical condition; sound; well.
–verb (used with object)
3. Chiefly British Dialect. to make trim, smart, etc. (often fol. by up or out).
Origin:
1150–1200 for earlier sense; 1505–15 for def. 1; ME trigg true, trusty < ON tryggr loyal, safe; c. Goth triggws true, faithful. See true

Related forms:
trigness, noun

Synonyms:
1. tidy, orderly.

trig⋅ger⋅man

  [trig-er-muhn, -man]
–noun, plural -men  [-muhn, -men] . Informal.
1. a gangster who specializes in gunning people down.
2. a bodyguard, esp. of a gangster.
Also called trigger.

Origin:
1920–25; trigger + man 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To trigger
trig·ger   (trĭg'ər)   
n.  
    1. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
    2. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  2. An event that precipitates other events.
  3. Electronics A pulse or circuit that initiates the action of another component.
tr.v.   trig·gered, trig·ger·ing, trig·gers
  1. To set off; initiate: remarks that triggered bitter debates.
  2. To fire or explode (a weapon or an explosive charge).

[Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker, from trecken, to pull.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Trigger

Trig"ger\, n. [For older tricker, from D. trekker, fr. trekken to draw, pull. See Trick, n.]

1. A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.

2. (Mech.) A piece, as a lever, which is connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it; especially (Firearms), the part of a lock which is moved by the finger to release the cock and discharge the piece.

Trigger fish (Zo["o]l.), a large plectognath fish (Balistes Carolinensis or B. capriscus) common on the southern coast of the United States, and valued as a food fish in some localities. Its rough skin is used for scouring and polishing in the place of sandpaper. Called also leather jacket, and turbot.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : trigger
Spanish: gatillo,
German: der Abzug,
Japanese: 引金
More Translations »

trigger  (n.)
1660, earlier tricker (1621), from Du. trekker "trigger," from trekken "to pull" (see trek). Tricker was the usual form in Eng. until c.1750. The verb is first recorded 1930, from the noun. Trigger-happy is attested from 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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trigger database
An action causing the automatic invocation of a procedure, for instance to preserve referential integrity. A triggers goes into effect when a user attempts to modify data with an insert, delete, or update command. A trigger can instruct the system to take any number of actions when a specified change is attempted. By preventing incorrect, unauthorized, or inconsistent changes to data, triggers help maintain the integrity of the database.
[Sybase SQL Server Release 10.0 Transact-SQL User's Guide].
(1995-02-22)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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trigger

In addition to the idiom beginning with trigger, also see quick on the draw (trigger).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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