different between shorten vs trim

English

Etymology

From Middle English shortnen, schortenen, equivalent to short +? -en (verbal suffix). In some senses, a continuation (in altered form) of Middle English schorten (“to make short, shorten”), from Old English s?ortian (“to become short”), from Proto-Germanic *skurt?n? (“to shorten”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????t?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????t?n/

Verb

shorten (third-person singular simple present shortens, present participle shortening, simple past and past participle shortened)

1. (transitive) To make shorter; to abbreviate.
   • 1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Chapter 22[1]

     York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up.

2. (intransitive) To become shorter.
3. (transitive) To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).

   • Spoiled of his nose, and shorten'd of his ears.

4. (transitive) To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
5. (transitive) To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.

   to shorten an allowance of food

   • 1699, John Dryden, Dedication to His Grace the Duke of Ormond

     Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain.

   • 1858, George Borrow, The Romany Rye (volume 2, page 128)

     My grandfather, as I said before, was connected with a gang of shorters, and sometimes shortened money, […]

6. (nautical, transitive) To take in the slack of (a rope).
7. (nautical, transitive) To reduce (sail) by taking it in.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:shorten

Antonyms

• extend
• lengthen

Translations

Anagrams

• Herston, Hornets, Rhotens, Thorens, Thorsen, enhorts, hornets, snoreth, thrones

English

Etymology

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman (“to make firm; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumjan? (“to make fast; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumaz (“firm; strong; sound”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t??m/, [t??????m]
• Rhymes: -?m

Verb

trim (third-person singular simple present trims, present participle trimming, simple past and past participle trimmed)

1. (transitive) To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess.

2. (transitive) To decorate or adorn; especially of a Christmas tree.

3. (transitive, aviation, of an aircraft) To adjust the positions of control surfaces, sometimes using trim tabs, so as to modify or eliminate the aircraft's tendency to pitch, roll, or yaw when the cockpit controls are released.
4. (transitive, nautical, of a vessel) To modify the angle relative to the water by shifting cargo or ballast; to adjust for sailing; to assume, or cause to assume a certain position, or trim, in the water.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

     The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her to lie a little more evenly.

5. (transitive, nautical, of a vessel's sails) To modify the angle (of the sails) relative to the wind, especially to set them at the most advantageous angle.
7. (dated) To balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each.
8. (transitive) To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.

   • The hermit trimmed his little fire.

9. (transitive, carpentry, of timber) To dress; to make smooth.
10. (transitive, dated) To rebuke; to reprove.
11. (transitive, dated) To beat or thrash.

Derived terms

• betrim

Translations

Noun

trim (countable and uncountable, plural trims)

1. (uncountable) Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders.

2. (countable) A haircut, especially a moderate one to touch up an existing style.

3. Dress; gear; ornaments.
4. (countable) The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.
   • 1614, George Chapman, Andromeda Liberata

     The measure and whole trim of comeliness

5. (uncountable, aviation, of an aircraft) The state of adjustment of control surfaces such that the desired attitude can be maintained without requiring the continuous application of force to the cockpit controls.
6. (uncountable, aviation, by extension) The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.
7. (uncountable, slang, mildly vulgar) Sexual intercourse.
   • 1969, Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Bantam, 1971, Chapter 35, pp. 239-240,^[3]

     “Take me somewhere.”

     His response lacked dignity, but in fairness to him I admit that I had left him little chance to be suave.

     He asked, “You mean, you’re going to give me some trim?”

8. (nautical) The fore-and-aft angle of the vessel to the water, with reference to the cargo and ballast; the manner in which a vessel floats on the water, whether on an even keel or down by the head or stern.
9. (nautical) The arrangement of the sails with reference to the wind.

Translations

Adjective

trim (comparative trimmer, superlative trimmest)

1. Physically fit.

2. Slender, lean.

3. Neat or smart in appearance.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4 Scene 1

     […] manhood is melted into curtsies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it.

   • “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, […].

Translations

Adverb

trim (not comparable)

1. (nautical) In good order; properly managed or maintained.
2. (nautical) With sails well trimmed.

Anagrams

• MIRT, RMIT

Albanian

Alternative forms

• (Gheg) trajm [t?ajm]

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *trim-, from Proto-Indo-European *ter- (“soft, weak, young”). Cognate with Sanskrit ???? (táru?a, “young”) and Armenian ???? (t?arm, “young, fresh”). Alternatively from Proto-Indo-European *trem(s)- (“to thump; to tremble”). Compare Latin trem? (“tremble”), Lithuanian trìmti (“shake, tremble”), Tocharian A tröm (“in rage, fury”) and Tocharian B tremi (“rage, fury”).

Noun

trim m (indefinite plural trima, definite singular trimi, definite plural trimat)

1. man, manful
2. hero
3. courageous
4. valiant, valorous
5. brave, hardy

References

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?m

Verb

trim

1. first-person singular present indicative of trimmen
2. imperative of trimmen

Latvian

Numeral

trim

1. dative plural masculine form of tr?s
2. instrumental plural masculine form of tr?s
3. dative plural feminine form of tr?s
4. instrumental plural feminine form of tr?s