troll

1
[ trohl ]
See synonyms for: trolltrolledtrollingtroller on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to fish for or in with a moving line, either working the line up or down with a rod as in fishing for pike, or trailing the line behind a slow-moving boat: In September, boat anglers were starting to troll the river for salmon.

  2. to move (the line or bait) continuously through the water while fishing, as from a moving boat: As his outboard chugged past the island, he trolled his line out fifty or sixty feet behind.

  1. to browse through (the internet, a collection, etc.) in search of something: She spends her downtime trolling websites for holiday deals.

  2. Informal.

    • to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages on (the internet) for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.

    • to upset or provoke (others) by posting such messages.

    • to make such provocative comments about (others) in public: The actress was trolled on late-night TV.

  3. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice: Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.

  4. to sing in the manner of a round or catch.

  5. Archaic. to cause to turn round and round; roll.

  6. Obsolete. to hand around, as a bowl of liquor at table.

verb (used without object)
  1. to fish by trolling: We spent the day trolling for muskies.

  2. to browse through the internet, a collection, etc., in search of something: I trolled through my photos for hours to find the best shots of the two of us.

  1. Informal.

    • to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response: He props up his fragile ego by trolling on game sites, putting everybody else down.

    • to make such provocative comments in public.

  2. Archaic. to sing with a full, rolling voice; give forth full, rolling tones.

  3. Archaic. to be uttered or sounded in such tones.

  4. Archaic. to roll; turn round and round.

  5. Archaic. to move nimbly, as the tongue in speaking.

noun
  1. the act of trolling for fish.

  2. a lure used in trolling for fish.

  1. the fishing line containing the lure and hook for use in trolling.

  2. Informal.

    • a person who posts inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.

    • a person who makes such provocative comments in public.

  3. Archaic. a song whose parts are sung in succession; a round.

Origin of troll

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English trollen “to roll, stroll,” from Middle French troller “to run here and there, ramble,” from Middle High German trollen “to walk or run with short steps”; defs. 4, 11, 19 are influenced by troll2

Other words from troll

  • troll·er, noun
  • un·trolled, adjective

Words that may be confused with troll

Words Nearby troll

Other definitions for troll (2 of 2)

troll2
[ trohl ]

noun
  1. (in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.

  2. Slang. a person who lives or sleeps in a park or under a viaduct or bridge, as a derelict or poor person.

Origin of troll

2
First recorded in 1610–20; from Old Norse troll “demon, fiend”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use troll in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for troll (1 of 2)

troll1

/ (trəʊl) /


verb
  1. angling

    • to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat

    • to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling

    • to fish (for) by trolling

  2. to roll or cause to roll

  1. archaic to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice

  2. (intr) British informal to walk or stroll

  3. (intr) homosexual slang to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise

  4. (intr) computing slang to post deliberately inflammatory articles on an internet discussion board

noun
  1. the act or an instance of trolling

  2. angling a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner

  1. computing slang a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles to an internet discussion

Origin of troll

1
C14: from Old French troller to run about; related to Middle High German trollen to run with short steps

Derived forms of troll

  • troller, noun

British Dictionary definitions for troll (2 of 2)

troll2

/ (trəʊl) /


noun
  1. (in Scandinavian folklore) one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants

Origin of troll

2
C19: from Old Norse: demon; related to Danish trold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012