triphenylmethane (trai fen'эl meθ´ein', -fi:n'эl-) •n. a colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, CH(C6H5)3, used in organic synthesis and in making dyes [TRI- + PHENYL + METHANE]

triphibian (trai fib´i: эn) •adj. 1 that can function, operate, or carry on warfare on land, at sea, or in the air Æ 2 designating an aircraft that can take off from, or land on, water, land, or snow and ice: also tri·phib´i·ous [TRI- + (AM)PHIBIAN]

triphthong (trif´θöŋ) •n. 1 a complex vowel sound involving three continuous vowel sounds in one syllable (Ex.: fire, as in the British pronunciation, IPA [faiЭ]) 2 loosely, a trigraph triph·thon´gal (-θöŋ´gэl) •adj. [TRI- + (DI)PHTHONG]

tripinnate (trai pin´eit') •adj. Bot. bipinnate with each division pinnate, as some fern leaves tri·pin´nate'ly •adv.

triplane (trai´plein') •n. an early type of airplane with three sets of wings arranged one above another

triple (trip´эl) •adj. 1 consisting of or including three; threefold 2 done, used, said, etc. three times; repeated twice 3 three times as much, as many, as large, etc. 4 Music containing three (or a multiple of three) beats to the measure {triple time} •n. [ME < L triplus] 1 an amount three times as much or as many 2 a group of three; triad Æ 3 Baseball a hit on which the batter reaches third base •vt. tri´pled, tri´pling [ME tryplen < ML triplare < L triplus, threefold < tri-, TRI- + -plus, as in duplus, DOUBLE] 1 to make three times as much or as many Æ 2 Baseball to advance (a runner) by hitting a triple •vi. 1 to become three times as much or as many Æ 2 Baseball to hit a triple [Fr < L triplus: see the vt.]

Triple Alliance 1 an alliance of England, Sweden, and the Netherlands against France in 1668 2 an alliance of Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands against Spain in 1717 3 an alliance of Great Britain, Austria, and Russia against France in 1795 4 an alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy from 1882 to 1915, chiefly against Russia and France

triple bond Chem. the sharing of three pairs of electrons between two atoms in a molecule, usually represented in structural formulas by three dots, as in C:C

Triple Crown Æ 1 Baseball the distinction of leading a league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in, for a single season Æ 2 Horse Racing the distinction of winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes in the same year [< CROWN (n. 2)]

Triple Entente 1 the military understanding reached by Great Britain, France, and Russia before World War I as a counterbalance to the Triple Alliance 2 these three countries as parties to the understanding

triple jump a track-and-field event in which each contestant, after a running start, makes three consecutive jumps for total distance, landing after the first on the same foot used in the takeoff, after the second on the opposite foot, and after the third on both feet

triple play Baseball a single play in which three players are put out

triple point a pressure and temperature combination at which the solid, liquid, and vapor phases of a substance exist in contact and in equilibrium with one another: the triple point of water is 273.16° K (0.01°C) at c. 4.6 mm of mercury

triple sec (sek) a sweet, orange-flavored, colorless liqueur

triple threat 1 a football player who is a skillful runner, passer, and kicker 2 a person who is expert or adept in three fields, skills, etc.

triple-nerved (trip´эl nørvd') •adj. Bot. having three nerves arising from or near the base, as some leaves

triple-space (-speis') -spaced', -spac'ing •vt., vi. to type (copy) so as to leave two full spaces between lines

triplet (trip´lit) •n. 1 a collection or group of three, usually of one kind; specif., a) a group of three successive lines of poetry, usually rhyming b) a group of three musical notes to be performed in the time of two of the same value 2 any of three offspring born at a single birth [TRIPL(E) + -ET]

tripletail (trip´эl teil') •n. any of a family (Lobotidae) of percoid fishes that have large, trailing dorsal and anal fins; esp., a large food fish (Lobotes surinamensis) of warm W Atlantic waters

triplex (tri´pleks', trai´-) •adj. triple; threefold [L < tri-, TRI- + -plex: see DUPLEX]

triplicate (trip´li kit; for v., -keit') •adj. 1 threefold 2 designating the third of identical copies •n. any of three identical copies or things •vt. -cat'ed, -cat'ing to make three identical copies of in triplicate in three identical copies trip'li·ca´tion •n. [ME < L triplicatus, pp. of triplicare, to treble < triplex: see TRIPLEX]

triplicity (tri plis´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or condition of being triple 2 a group of three 3 Astrol. any of the four sets of three signs, each 120 degrees distant from the other two, into which the zodiac is divided; trigon [ME triplicite < ML triplicitas < L triplex: see TRIPLEX]

triplite (trip´lait') •n. a dark-brown, monoclinic mineral, a phosphate of iron and manganese, commonly containing some calcium and magnesium [Ger triplit < Gr triploos, threefold (see TRIPLOBLASTIC) + Ger -it, -ITE¹: because of its triple cleavage]

triploblastic (trip'lou blæs´tik) •adj. Zool. of or pertaining to the metazoan body structure, except that of cnidarians, with three basic cellular layers, the ectoderm, the endoderm, and the mesoderm [< Gr triploos, triple < tri-, TRI- + IE *-plo- (see DOUBLE) + BLAST- + -IC]

triploid (trip´loid') •adj. Biol. having three times the haploid number of chromosomes •n. a triploid cell or organism trip´loi'dy (-loi'di:) •n. [< L triplus, TRIPLE + -OID]

triply (trip´li:) •adv. in a triple amount or degree

tripod (trai´päd') •n. 1 a three-legged caldron, stool, table, etc. 2 a three-legged support as for a camera or telescope, usually adjustable for height trip·o·dal (trip´э dэl) or tri·pod·ic (trai päd´ik) •adj. [L tripus (gen. tripodis) < Gr tripous < tri-, TRI- + pous, FOOT]

Tripoli (trip´э li:') 1 former Barbary State on the N coast of Africa 2 capital of Libya: seaport on the NW coast: pop. (met. area) 980,000 3 seaport on the NW coast of Lebanon: pop. c. 175,000 Tri·pol·i·tan (tri päl´i tэn, -itªn) •adj., n. tripoli (trip´э li:') •n. a usually light-colored, very finely divided, essentially siliceous material consisting either of weathered chert or siliceous limestone: used as a polishing powder Also called trip´o·lite' (-lait') [Fr, after Tripoli, town in Lebanon (or ? Libya), from which it was orig. imported]

Tripolitania (trip'эl э tei´ni: э) region of NW Libya, on the Mediterranean: 110,000 sq. mi. (284,898 sq. km); chief city, Tripoli

tripos (trai´päs') •n. 1 orig., a tripod 2 at Cambridge University a) [Historical] a scholar who sat on a three-legged stool at commencement and disputed humorously with candidates for a degree b) any examination for the BA degree with honors (orig. in mathematics) [altered < L tripus, TRIPOD]

tripper (trip´эr) •n. a person or thing that trips; specif., a) a mechanical part for tripping a cam, pawl, etc.; also, a tripping device that operates a signal on a railroad b) [Brit., etc.] a person who takes a trip; tourist

trippet (-it) •n. a cam or other mechanical part designed to strike another part at regular intervals [< TRIP + -ET]

tripping (trip´iŋ) •adj. moving lightly and quickly; nimble trip´ping·ly •adv.

triptane (trip´tein') •n. a liquid alkane, (CH3)2CHC(CH3)3, used as a high antiknock fuel in internal-combustion engines, esp. in airplanes [contr. < tripentane: see TRI- & PENTANE]

triptych (trip´tik) •n. 1 an ancient writing tablet of three leaves hinged together 2 a set of three panels with pictures, designs, or carvings, often hinged so that the two side panels may be folded over the central one, commonly used as an altarpiece [< Gr triptychos, threefold < tri-, TRI- + ptychē (gen. ptychos), a fold]

Tripura (trip´u rэ) state of NE India: 4,036 sq. mi. (10,453 sq. km); pop. 1,556,000

tripwire (trip´wair') •n. a hidden wire that will set off a trap, snare, etc. when tripped on

triquetrous (trai kwi:´trэs, -kwe´-) •adj. 1 three-sided; triangular 2 having a triangular cross section [L triquetrus < tri-, TRI- + *qued- < IE base *kwēd-, to spur, bore, sharpen > WHET: hence orig., three-pointed]

triradiate (trai rei´di: it, -eit') •adj. having three rays or raylike projections tri·ra´di·ate·ly •adv.

trireme (trai´ri:m') •n. an ancient Greek or Roman galley, usually a warship, with three banks of oars on each side [L triremis, trireme (orig., having three banks of oars) < tri-, TRI- + remus, oar: see ROW²]

trisaccharide (trai sæk´э raid') •n. a carbohydrate yielding three monosaccharides upon hydrolysis, as raffinose

trisect (trai sekt´, trai´sekt') •vt. 1 to cut into three parts 2 Geom. to divide into three equal parts tri·sec´tion •n. tri·sec´tor •n. [< TRI- + L sectus, pp. of secare, to cut: see SAW¹]

triskaidekaphobia (tris'kai dek'э fou´bi: э) •n. fear of the number 13 [ModL < Gr triskaideka, thirteen (< treis, THREE + kai, and + deka, TEN) + -phobia, -PHOBIA]

triskelion (tris kel´i: än') pl. -i·a (-э) a design, usually symbolic, consisting of three curved branches or three bent legs or arms radiating from a center Also tris·kele (tris´ki:l') •n. [< Gr triskelēs, three-legged < tri-, TRI- + skelos, leg < IE base *(s)kel-, to bend, a joint of the body > L calx, heel, Gr kylindros, cylinder]

Trismegistus see HERMES TRISMEGISTUS

trismus (triz´mэs, tris´-) •n. continuous contraction of the muscles of the jaw, specif. as a symptom of tetanus, or lockjaw tris´mic •adj. [ModL < Gr trismos, gnashing of the teeth, a grinding, akin to trizein, to chirp, gnash < IE echoic base *(s)trei- > STRIDENT]

trisoctahedron (tris äk'tэ hi:´drэn) •n. an isometric solid figure or crystal consisting of an octahedron that has each face divided into three faces tris·oc'ta·he´dral •adj. [Gr tris, thrice (< treis, THREE) + OCTAHEDRON]

trisodium (trai sou´di: эm) •adj. containing three sodium atoms in the molecule

trisomic (trai sou´mik) •adj. having a single extra chromosome in the cell in addition to the normal diploid number •n. a trisomic cell or organism tri·so´my (-mi:) •n. [TRI- + -SOM(E)³ + -IC]

Tristan (tris´tэn) a masculine name: see TRISTRAM

Tristan da Cunha (tris'tэn dэ ku:n´yэ) group of four British islands in the South Atlantic, administered as a dependency of St. Helena: 45 sq. mi. (116 sq. km); pop. c. 325

tri-state (trai´steit') •adj. of or having to do with an area consisting of all or parts of three contiguous states

triste (tři:st) •adj. sad; sorrowful [Fr]

tristesse (tři:s tes´) •n. sadness; melancholy [Fr]

tristeza (tris tei´zэ) •n. a virus disease of citrus trees, usually transmitted on the graft of a sour-orange rootstock and causing a rapid decline or the death of the tree [Port, sorrow < L tristitia < tristis, sad; akin to OE thriste, bold, shameless: from the sorry appearance of diseased trees]

tristful (trist´fэl) •adj. [Archaic] sad; sorrowful; melancholy [LME trystefull < trist, sad (< OFr triste < L tristis: see TRISTEZA) + -ful, -FUL]

tristich (tris´tik) •n. a group or stanza of three lines of verse; triplet [TRI- + (DI)STICH]

tristichous (tris´ti kэs) •adj. 1 arranged in three rows 2 Bot. arranged in three vertical rows, as leaves [Gr tristichos, in three rows < tri-, TRI- + stichos, a row: see STICH]

Tristram (tris´trэm) 1 a masculine name: dim. Tris; var. Tristam, Tristan 2 Medieval Legend a knight sent to Ireland by King Mark of Cornwall to bring back the princess Isolde to be the king's bride: Isolde and Tristram fall in love and tragically die together; in some versions, Tristram marries another Isolde, a princess of Brittany [OFr Tristran, Tristan, altered (infl. by L tristis, sad) < Celt Drystan < drest, tumult, din]

trisubstituted (trai sûb´stэ tu:t'id, -tyu:t'-) •adj. containing three groups or atoms introduced into the molecule in place of three original groups or atoms

trisulfide (trai sûl´faid') •n. a sulfide having three sulfur atoms to the molecule

trisyllable (trai sil´э bэl, trai´sil'-) •n. a word of three syllables tri·syl·lab·ic (trai'si læb´ik) •adj.

trit triturate

trite (trait) trit´er, trit´est •adj. worn out by constant use; no longer having freshness, originality, or novelty; stale {a trite idea, remark, etc.} trite´ly •adv. trite´ness •n. SYN.—trite is applied to something, especially an expression or idea, which through repeated use or application has lost its original freshness and impressive force (e.g., like a bolt from the blue); hackneyed refers to such expressions which through constant use have become virtually meaningless (e.g., last but not least); stereotyped applies to those fixed expressions which seem invariably to be called up in certain situations (e.g., I point with pride in a political oration); commonplace is used of any obvious or conventional remark or idea (e.g., it isn't the heat, it's the humidity) —ANT. original, fresh [L tritus, pp. of terere, to rub, wear out < IE base *ter-, to rub, bore > THROW, Gr tryein, to wear away]

tritheism (trai´θi: iz'эm) •n. belief in three gods; specif., the heretical doctrine or belief that the persons of the Trinity are three distinct gods tri´the·ist •n. [TRI- + THEISM]

tritiated (trit´i: eit'id) •adj. containing tritium

triticale (trit'i kei´li:) •n. 1 a hybrid with a high protein content, produced by crossing wheat and rye 2 the grain of this plant [< Triticum, genus name of wheat + Secale, genus name of rye]

tritium (trit´i: эm) •n. a radioactive isotope of hydrogen having an atomic weight of 3 and a half-life of c. 12.5 years: it decays by beta-particle emission and is used in thermonuclear bombs, thermonuclear fusion devices, as a radioactive tracer, etc. [ModL < Gr tritos, THIRD + -IUM]

tritoma (trit´э mэ) •n. any of a genus (Kniphofia) of African plants of the lily family, with dense spikes of red to yellow tubular flowers in the autumn [ModL < Gr tritomos, cut three times < tri-, THREE + -tomos, cut off: see TOME]

Triton (trait´ªn, trai´tэn) 1 Gr. Myth. a) a sea god, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, represented as having the head and upper body of a man and the tail of a fish and as carrying a conch-shell trumpet b) later, one of many attendants of the sea gods 2 the largest of Neptune's eight satellites •n. [t-] 1 any of a family (Cymatiidae) of large sea snails with a long, spiral shell, often brightly colored 2 the shell [L < Gr Tritōn; ? akin to OIr triath, sea] triton (trai´tän') •n. the nucleus of the tritium atom containing one proton and two neutrons, used as a projectile in nuclear reactions [Gr, neut. of tritos, THIRD]

tritone (trai´toun') •n. Music an interval of three whole tones [ML tritonum < Gr tritonon: see TRI- & TONE]

triturate (trich´э reit', tri´tyu-) -rat'ed, -rat'ing •vt. to rub, crush, or grind into very fine particles or powder; pulverize •n. something triturated; specif., TRITURATION (sense 2) trit´u·ra·ble (-эr э bэl) •adj. trit´u·ra'tor •n. [< LL trituratus, pp. of triturare, to grind < L tritura, a rubbing < tritus: see TRITE]

trituration (trich'э rei´shэn, tri'tyu-) •n. 1 a triturating or being triturated 2 Pharmacy a triturated preparation, esp. one containing a pulverized mixture of a medicinal substance with lactose

triumph (trai´эmf, -ûmf') •n. 1 in ancient Rome, a procession celebrating the return of a victorious general and his army 2 the act or fact of being victorious; victory; success; achievement 3 exultation or joy over a victory, achievement, etc. 4 [Obs.] any public spectacle or celebration •vi. [MFr triumpher < L triumphare < the n.] 1 to gain victory or success; win mastery 2 to rejoice or exult over victory, achievement, etc. 3 to celebrate a Roman triumph SYN. VICTORY [ME triumphe < OFr < L triumphus < OL triumpus, akin to Gr thriambos, hymn to Bacchus sung in festal processions]

triumphal (trai ûm´fэl) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, a triumph 2 celebrating or commemorating a triumph {a triumphal procession}

triumphalism (trai ûm´fэl iz'эm) •n. a proud, often arrogant confidence in the validity and success of a set of beliefs, often, specif., religious beliefs

triumphant (trai ûm´fэnt) •adj. 1 successful; victorious 2 rejoicing for victory; exulting in success; elated 3 rare var. of TRIUMPHAL 4 [Obs.] magnificent tri·um´phant·ly •adv. [L triumphans, prp. of triumphare: see TRIUMPH]

triumvir (trai ûm´vir') pl. -virs' or -vi·ri' (-vi rai') •n. 1 in ancient Rome, any of a group of three administrators sharing authority equally 2 any of three persons associated in office or authority [L, back-form. < trium virum, gen. pl. of tres viri, three men < tres, THREE + vir, a man (for IE base see WEREWOLF)]

triumviral (-vi rэl) •adj. of a triumvir or triumvirate

triumvirate (trai ûm´vi rit) •n. 1 the office, functions, or term of a triumvir 2 government by three persons or by a coalition of three parties 3 any association of three in authority 4 any group or set of three [L triumviratus]

triune (trai´yu:n') •adj. being three in one {a triune God} •n. [T-] TRINITY tri·u´ni·ty •n. [< TRI- + L unus, ONE]

trivalent (trai vei´lэnt; trai´vei'-, trai´vei´-) •adj. 1 Biol. triple: said of a chromosome formed by three homologous chromosomes that lie close together or appear to join completely during meiosis 2 Chem. a) having three valences b) having a valence of three (see -VALENT) tri·va´lence or tri·va´len·cy •n. [TRI- + -VALENT]

Trivandrum (tri væn´drэm) seaport on the Malabar Coast of S India, in Kerala state: pop. 520,000

trivet (triv´it) •n. 1 a three-legged stand for holding pots, kettles, etc. over or near a fire 2 a short-legged metal or ceramic plate for holding hot dishes on a table [ME trevet < OE trefet < L tripes (gen. tripedis), tripod, three-footed < tri-, three + pes, FOOT]

trivia (triv´i: э) •n.pl. [often with sing. v.] 1 unimportant matters; trivialities 2 little-known, insignificant facts [ModL, back-form. < fol.]

trivial (triv´i: эl) •adj. 1 unimportant; insignificant; trifling 2 [Rare] commonplace triv´i·al·ism' •n. triv´i·al·ly •adv. [L trivialis, of the crossroads, hence commonplace < trivium, place where three roads meet < tri-, TRI- + via, road: see VIA]

trivial name 1 a common name or vernacular name, as of a plant or animal 2 old term for the specific name of an organism as distinct from the generic name in binomial nomenclature

triviality (triv'i: æl´э ti:) •n. 1 the quality or state of being trivial 2 pl. -ties a trivial thing, matter, or idea; trifle [prec. + -ITY]

trivialize (triv´i: эl aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to regard or treat as trivial; make seem unimportant triv'i·al·i·za´tion •n.

trivium (triv´i: эm) pl. -i·a (-э) •n. in the Middle Ages, the lower division of the seven liberal arts, consisting of grammar, logic, and rhetoric: cf. QUADRIVIUM [ML < L: see TRIVIAL]

triweekly (trai wi:k´li:) •adj., adv. 1 once every three weeks Æ 2 three times a week pl. -lies a publication that appears triweekly •n.

-trix (triks) suffix forming feminine nouns of agency See -OR [L]

Troas (trou´эs, trou´æs') region surrounding ancient Troy, in NW Asia Minor: also called the Tro´ad' (-æd')

Trobriand Islands (trou´bri: эnd; -ænd', -änd') group of small islands off SE New Guinea: part of Papua New Guinea: c. 170 sq. mi. (440 sq. km)

trocar (trou´kär') •n. a surgical instrument consisting of a sharp stylet enclosed in a tube (cannula) and inserted through the wall of a body cavity: the stylet is withdrawn permitting fluid to drain off through the tube Also sp. tro´char' [Fr trocart < trois (< L tres, THREE) + carre, a side, face < carrer, to make square < L quadrare (see QUADRATE): from the shape of the point]

trochaic (trou kei´ik) •adj. of or made up of trochees •n. 1 a trochaic line of poetry 2 TROCHEE [MFr trochaïque < L trochaïcus < Gr trochaïkos]

trochal (trou´kэl) •adj. Zool. resembling a wheel [< Gr trochos (see TROCHE) + -AL]

trochanter (trou kænt´эr) •n. 1 any of the jutting processes (in humans, two) at the upper end of the femur of many vertebrates 2 the second segment from the base of an insect leg tro·chan·ter·ic (trou'kæn ter´ik) •adj. [Gr trochantēr < trechein, to run: see TROCHE]

troche (trou´ki:) •n. a small, usually round, medicinal lozenge [altered < trochisk < Fr trochisque < LL trochiscus, pill, small ball < Gr trochiskos, small wheel, lozenge < trochos, wheel < trechein, to run < IE base *dhregh-, to run > OIr droch, wheel]

trochee (trou´ki:) •n. a metrical foot consisting, in Greek and Latin verse, of one long syllable followed by one short one, or, as in English verse, of one accented syllable followed by one unaccented one (Ex.: Pétĕr, | Pétĕr, | púmpkĭn | éatĕr) [L trochaeus < Gr trochaios, running < trechein, to run: see TROCHE]

trochilus (träk´i lэs) pl. -li' (-lai') •n. 1 any of various Old World birds, esp. warblers 2 any of certain hummingbirds [L < Gr trochilos, lit., a runner < trechein, to run: see TROCHE]

trochlea (träk´li: э) pl. -le·ae' (-li: i:') •n. Anat. a pulley-shaped part or structure, as the lower part of the humerus which articulates with a corresponding part of the ulna [ModL < L, pulley block < Gr trochilia < trochos, a wheel: see TROCHE]

trochlear (träk´li: эr) •adj. 1 Anat. of, having the nature of, or forming a trochlea 2 Bot. shaped like a pulley; round and contracted in the middle

trochoid (trou´koid') •n. Geom. any cycloid •adj. having a wheel-like rotary motion on an axis, as a joint: also tro·choi´dal [< Gr trochoeides, round like a wheel < trochos (see TROCHE) + eidos, -OID]

trochophore (träk´ou för', träk´э-) •n. a free-swimming ciliate larva of several invertebrate groups, including many marine annelid worms, mollusks, brachiopods, and nemerteans [Gr trochos, a wheel (see TROCHE) + -PHORE]

trod (träd) •vt., vi. pt. & alt. pp. of TREAD

trodden (träd´ªn) •vt., vi. alt. pp. of TREAD

troffer (träf´эr, tröf´-) •n. a ceiling recess like an inverted trough with its bottom next to the ceiling: used esp. to enclose fluorescent lamps [altered < TROUGH + -ER]

troglodyte (träg´lou dait', -lэ-) •n. 1 any of the prehistoric people who lived in caves; cave man 2 a) a person who chooses to live alone in seclusion; recluse b) anyone who lives in a primitive or degenerate fashion 3 an anthropoid ape trog'lo·dyt´ic (-dit´ik) or trog'lo·dyt´i·cal •adj. [L troglodyta < Gr trōglodytēs, one who creeps into holes, cave dweller < trōglē, a hole, cave (< trōgein, to gnaw < IE *trōg- < base *ter-, to rub, grind > THROW) + dyein, to creep in, enter]

trogon (trou´gän') •n. any of an order (Trogoniformes) of bright-colored, fruit-eating tropical birds [ModL < Gr trōgōn, gnawing, prp. of trōgein, to gnaw: see TROGLODYTE]

troika (troi´kэ) •n. 1 a) a Russian vehicle, esp. a sleigh or carriage, drawn by a specially trained team of three horses abreast b) the team of horses 2 any group of three; esp., an association of three in authority; triumvirate [Russ < troe, three < IE *troio- < base *trei-, THREE]

troilism (troil´iz'эm) •n. sexual activity in which three people participate

Troilus (troi´lэs, trou´э lэs) Gr. Legend a son of King Priam, killed by Achilles: in medieval romance and in works by Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Shakespeare, Troilus was the lover of Cressida [ME < L < Gr Trōilos]

Trois-Rivières (třwä ři: vyeř´) city in S Quebec, Canada, on the St. Lawrence: pop. 58,000: Eng. name Three Rivers [descriptive]

Trojan (trou´jэn) •adj. of ancient Troy, its people, or its culture •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of ancient Troy 2 a strong, hard-working, determined person 3 [Obs.] a merry, dissolute companion [ME Troyan < L Trojanus < Troja, TROY]

Trojan horse Gr. Legend a huge, hollow wooden horse with Greek soldiers hidden inside that is left at the gates of Troy: when the Trojans bring it into the city, the soldiers creep out and open the gates to the rest of the Greek army, which destroys the city any person, group, or thing that seeks to subvert a nation, organization, etc. from within

Trojan War Gr. Legend the ten-year war waged against Troy by the Greeks in order to get back King Menelaus' wife, Helen, who has been abducted by Paris

troll¹ (troul) •vt. 1 to roll; revolve 2 a) to sing the parts of (a round, catch, etc.) in succession b) to sing lustily or in a full, rolling voice; chant merrily 3 a) to trail (a lure, bait, etc.) through the water in fishing from a slowly moving boat b) to fish in (a lake, etc.) by this method •vi. 1 [Now Rare] a) to speak fast b) to wag (said of the tongue) 2 to sing in a round, catch, etc. 3 a) to sing lustily or in a full, rolling voice b) to be uttered in such a voice 4 to fish with a bait or lure trailed on a line behind a slowly moving boat 5 to roll, spin, or whirl •n. 1 a song having parts sung in succession; round 2 a) the method of trolling in fishing b) a lure, or a lure and line, used in trolling troll´er •n. [ME trollen, to roll, troll, wander, prob. < MFr troller < ? MHG trollen, to walk or run with short steps: see TROLL2]

troll² (troul) •n. Scand. Folklore any of a race of supernatural beings, variously conceived of as giants or dwarfs, living underground or in caves [ON, prob. < *truzla < IE *dreu-, var. of base *drā-, to run > TRAP¹, MHG trollen, to run with short steps, Ger trolle, wench: readopted < Norw by 19th-c. antiquaries]

trolley (träl´i:) pl. -leys •n. 1 a wheeled carriage, basket, etc. that runs suspended from an overhead track Æ 2 an apparatus, as a grooved wheel at the end of a pole, for transmitting electric current from an overhead wire to the motor of a streetcar, etc. Æ 3 a trolley car 4 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] any of various wheeled vehicles or carts, esp. a cart pushed by hand •vt., vi. -leyed, -ley·ing Æ to carry or ride on a trolley Æ off one's trolley [Slang] crazy; insane [< East Anglian dial. < TROLL¹]

trolley bus an electric bus that is powered from overhead wires by means of trolleys; trackless trolley

trolley car an electric streetcar that gets its motive power from an overhead wire by means of a trolley

trollop (träl´эp) •n. 1 [Now Rare] a slovenly, dirty woman; slattern 2 a sexually promiscuous woman; specif., a prostitute [prob. < Ger trolle, wench: see TROLL²]

Trollope (träl´эp), Anthony 1815-82; Eng. novelist

trolly (träl´i:) pl. -lies •n. var. of TROLLEY •vt., vi. -lied, -ly·ing

trombidiasis (träm'bi dai´э sis) •n. the state of being infested with chiggers Also trom'bi·di·o´sis (-dai ou´sis) [ModL < Trombidium, a genus of mites + -iasis: see -IASIS]

trombone (träm´boun', träm boun´) •n. a large brass instrument consisting of a long tube bent parallel to itself twice and ending in a bell mouth: it is of two types, the slide trombone, in which different tones are produced by moving the slide, or movable section of the tube, in or out, and the valve trombone, played, like the trumpet, with valves trom·bon´ist •n. [It < tromba, a trumpet < OHG trumba: see TRUMP²]

trommel (träm´эl) •n. a sieve, usually a revolving cylindrical one, used in screening ore, coal, etc. [Ger, a drum < MHG trumel < trume, of echoic orig.]

tromp (trämp) •vi., vt. var. of TRAMP

trompe (trämp) •n. an apparatus formerly used for producing a blast, as in a blast furnace, by means of water falling through a tube and sucking in air which is diverted to the furnace [Fr, lit., TRUMPET]

trompe l'oeil (třouñp lë´yª) 1 a painting, etc. that creates such a strong illusion of reality that the viewer may not at first be sure whether the thing depicted is real or a representation 2 an illusion or effect of this kind [Fr, lit., trick of the eye]

-tron (trän, trэn) combining form instrument: used esp. in forming names of devices in electronics and nuclear physics {calutron} [Gr, suffix of instrument, akin to L -trum]

trona (trou´nэ) •n. an impure type of hydrous sodium carbonate, Na2CO3·NaHCO3·2H2O, gray or yellowish-white, used as a source of sodium compounds [Swed, prob. < colloq. Ar trōn, contr. < natrūn: see NATRON]

Trondheim (trän´heim') seaport in central Norway, on an inlet (Trondheim Fjord) of the Norwegian Sea: pop. 134,000

troop (tru:p) •n. 1 a group of persons, animals, or, formerly, things; herd, flock, band, etc. 2 loosely, a great number; lot 3 [pl.] a) a body of soldiers b) soldiers {45 troops were killed} 4 a) a subdivision of a mounted cavalry regiment b) an armored cavalry unit that corresponds to a company of infantry 5 a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader 6 [Archaic] a group of actors; troupe •vi. 1 to gather or go together in a throng {the crowd trooped out of the stadium} 2 to walk, go, or pass {children were trooping along the sidewalk} 3 [Archaic] to associate or consort troop the colors [Brit., etc.] to parade the colors, or flag, before troops SYN.—troop is applied to a group of people organized as a unit [a cavalry troop], or working or acting together in close cooperation [troops of sightseers]; troupe is the current form with reference to a group of performers, as in the theater or a circus; company is the general word for any group of people associated in any of various ways; band suggests a relatively small group of people closely united for some common purpose [a band of thieves, a brass band] [Fr troupe < OFr, back-form. < troupeau < ML troppus, a flock < Frank *throp, a crowd; akin to OE thorp, village: see THORP]

trooper (tru:´pэr) •n. 1 an enlisted soldier in the mounted cavalry 2 a cavalry horse 3 a mounted police officer Æ 4 State police officer 5 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a troopship [prec. + -ER]

troopship (tru:p´ship') •n. a ship for carrying troops; transport

troostite (tru:st´ait') •n. a kind of willemite, occurring in large crystals, in which zinc is partially replaced by manganese [after G. Troost (1776-1850), U.S. mineralogist + -ITE¹]

trop (trou) •adv., pron. too; too much; too many [Fr < ML troppus: see TROOP] trop 1 tropic 2 tropical

tropaeolin or tropaeoline (trou pi:´ou lin, trэ pi:´э-) •n. any of a group of orange or orange-yellow azo dyes Also sp. tro·pe´o·lin or tro·pe´o·line [< fol. + -IN(E)³: from resembling the hues of the flowers]

tropaeolum (-lэm) pl. -lums or -la (-lэ) •n. NASTURTIUM [ModL, dim. < Gr tropaion (see TROPHY): from the shieldlike leaves]

-tropal (trэ pэl) -TROPIC [< -TROP(E) + -AL]

trope (troup) •n. 1 a) the use of a word or words in a figurative sense b) a figure of speech c) figurative language in general 2 in the medieval church, a) the interpolation of a phrase or passage into the authorized service: such passages were later developed into dramatic dialogues b) any such passage [L tropus < Gr tropos, a turning, turn, figure of speech (akin to tropē, a turn) < trepein, to turn < IE base *trep-, to turn]

-trope (troup) combining form 1 forming nouns a) a turning or changing b) something that turns or changes {thaumatrope} 2 forming adjectives turning [Gr -tropos: see TROPE]

trophallaxis (träf'э læks´is) pl. -lax´es' (-i:z') •n. the exchange of regurgitated food, glandular secretions, etc. among members of a colony of social insects troph'al·lac´tic (-læk´tik) •adj. [ModL < Gr trophē, nourishment (see TROPHIC) + allaxis, barter < allassein, to exchange < allos, other: see ELSE]

trophic (träf´ik) •adj. of nutrition; having to do with the processes of nutrition [Gr trophikos < trophē, food < trephein, to feed < IE base *dherebh-, to coagulate > Gr thrombos, a clot]

-trophic (träf´ik, trouf´ik) combining form forming adjectives of or relating to a (specified) kind of nutrition

trophied (trou´fi:d) •adj. decorated with trophies

tropho- (träf´ou, -э) combining form of nutrition {trophoplasm} Also, before a vowel, troph- [< Gr trophē, nourishment: see TROPHIC]

trophoblast (träf´ou blæst', träf´э-) •n. a layer of nutritive ectoderm outside the blastoderm, by which the fertilized ovum is attached to the uterine wall and the developing embryo receives its nourishment troph'o·blas´tic •adj. [prec. + -BLAST]

trophoplasm (träf´ou plæz'эm, träf'э-) •n. the nutritive or vegetative substance of an organic cell, as fat or yolk granules: cf. IDIOPLASM [TROPHO- + -PLASM]

trophozoite (träf'ou zou´ait', träf'э-) •n. a protozoan, esp. of certain parasitic species, during the active feeding and growing stage in contrast with the reproductive and infective stages [TROPHO- + ZO- + -ITE¹]

trophy (trou´fi:) pl. -phies •n. 1 a) in ancient Greece and Rome, a memorial of victory erected on the battlefield or in some public place, orig. a display of captured arms or other spoils b) a representation of this on a medal 2 an architectural ornament representing a group of weapons 3 something taken from the enemy and kept as a memorial of victory, as captured arms 4 a lion's skin, deer's head, etc. displayed as evidence of hunting prowess 5 a) a prize, usually a silver cup, awarded in a sports contest or other competition b) anything serving as a reminder, as of a triumph [MFr trophée < L trophaeum, altered < tropaeum, sign of victory < Gr tropaion, a token of an enemy's defeat < tropaios, of a rout, turning < tropē, a turning, defeat < trepein: see TROPE]

-trophy (trэ fi:) combining form forming nouns nutrition, nourishment, growth {hypertrophy} [Gr -trophia < trephein, to nourish: see TROPHIC]

tropic (träp´ik) •n. 1 Astron. either of two circles of the celestial sphere parallel to the celestial equator, one, the Tropic of Cancer, c. 23° 26' north, and the other, the Tropic of Capricorn, c. 23° 26' south: they are the limits of the apparent north-and-south journey of the sun and are determined by the obliquity of the ecliptic 2 Geog. either of two parallels of latitude (Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn) situated on either side of the earth's equator that correspond to the astronomical tropics: see LATITUDE, illus. 3 [also T-] [pl.] the region of the earth lying between these latitudes; Torrid Zone •adj. of the tropics; tropical [ME tropik < LL tropicus < Gr tropikos, belonging to a turn (of the sun at the solstices) < tropē: see TROPE]

-tropic (träp´ik, trou´pik) combining form forming adjectives turning toward or from, changing because of, or otherwise responding to a (specified kind of) stimulus {phototropic} [< Gr -tropos, turning (< trepein: see TROPE) + -IC]

tropic bird any of a family (Phaethontidae) of tropical pelecaniform sea birds characterized by white plumage with black markings and a pair of long tail feathers

Tropic of Cancer (or Capricorn) see TROPIC (n. 1 & 2)

tropical (träp´i kэl) •adj. 1 of, in, characteristic of, or suitable for the tropics 2 very hot; sultry; torrid 3 [Rare] of, or having the nature of, a trope; figurative [L tropicus < Gr tropikos] trop´i·cal·ly •adv.

tropical continental a type of warm, dry air mass originating at low latitudes over land areas: see AIR MASS

tropical cyclone Meteorol. a cyclone, originating over tropical seas, ranging in diameter from c. 96 to 1,609 km (c. 60 to 1,000 mi.) and developing winds up to c. 321 km/hr. (c. 200 mi./hr.)

tropical fish any of various usually brightly colored fish of the tropics, esp. any of those kept in an aquarium at a constant, warm temperature

tropical maritime a type of warm, wet air mass originating at low latitudes over ocean areas: see AIR MASS

tropical year see YEAR (sense 2)

Tropical Zone TORRID ZONE

tropine (trou´pi:n', -pin) •n. a poisonous, colorless heterocyclic alkaloid, C8H15NO, produced by the hydrolysis of atropine or hyoscyamine [< (A)TROPINE]

tropism (trou´piz'эm) •n. the positive, or negative, attraction of a plant or sessile animal toward, or away from, a stimulus, as in the turning of a sunflower toward the light tro·pis´tic •adj. [< fol.]

-tropism (trэ piz'эm) combining form forming nouns tropism {heliotropism} [< -TROP(E) + -ISM]

tropology (trou päl´э ji:) •n. 1 the use of tropes or figurative language 2 a method of considering or interpreting Scripture in a figurative, moralistic way rather than in a literal sense trop·o·log·i·cal (träp'ou läj´i kэl, träp'э-; trou'pou-, -pэ-) or trop'o·log´ic •adj. [LL tropologia < LGr: see TROPE & -LOGY]

tropopause (trou´pou pöz', trou´pэ-; also träp´ou-, träp´э-) •n. an atmospheric transition zone or shell located between the troposphere and the stratosphere at an altitude of c. 10 to 20 km (c. 6 to 12 mi.), in which temperatures and atmospheric stability begin to increase with increasing altitude [TROPO(SPHERE) + PAUSE]

tropophilous (trou päf´э lэs) •adj. Bot. able to adjust to conditions of heat or cold, dryness or moisture, etc., as in seasonal changes: said of plants [< Gr tropos, a turning (see TROPE) + -PHILOUS]

tropophyte (träp´ou fait', träp´э-) •n. any tropophilous plant, as a deciduous tree trop'o·phyt´ic (-fit´ik) •adj. [< Gr tropos, a turning (see TROPE) + -PHYTE]

troposcatter (trou´pou skæt'эr, trou´pэ-; also träp´ou-, träp´э-) •n. TROPOSPHERIC SCATTER

troposphere (trou´pou sfir', trou´pэ-; also träp´ou-, träp´э-) •n. the atmospheric zone or shell below the tropopause, characterized by water vapor, vertical winds, weather, and decreasing temperatures with increasing altitude tro'po·spher´ic (-sfer´ik, -sfir´-) •adj. [Fr troposphère < Gr tropos, a turning (see TROPE) + Fr sphère (see SPHERE)]

tropospheric scatter scattering in the earth's troposphere, used in scatter communication at VHF and UHF for ranges beyond line of sight

-tropous (trэ pэs) combining form forming adjectives turning or turned (in a specified way or in response to a specified stimulus): used in botanical terms {anatropous} [< Gr tropos, a turning (see TROPE) + -OUS]

troppo (třôp´pô) •adv. see NON TROPPO [It < Fr trop: see TROP]

-tropy (trэ pi:) combining form -TROPISM [< Gr tropē: see TROPE]

Trossachs (träs´эks) valley in SW Perth, Scotland

trot (trät) trot´ted, trot´ting •vi. 1 to move, ride, drive, run, or go at a trot 2 to move quickly; hurry; run •vt. to cause to go at a trot •n. 1 a gait, as of a horse, in which a front leg and the opposite hind leg are lifted at the same time 2 a jogging gait of a person, between a walk and a run 3 the sound of a trotting horse 4 TROTLINE 5 a horse race for trotters Æ 6 [Slang] PONY (n. 3) 7 [Archaic] an old woman: a contemptuous term the trots [Slang] a case of diarrhea trot out [Colloq.] 1 to bring out for others to see or admire 2 to submit for approval [ME trotten < OFr troter < OHG trottōn, to tread: for IE base see TREAD]

troth (tröθ, trouθ, träθ) •n. [Archaic] 1 faithfulness; loyalty 2 truth: chiefly in phrase in troth, truly; indeed 3 one's pledged word; promise: see also PLIGHT ONE'S TROTH (at PLIGHT²) •vt. [Archaic] to pledge to marry [ME trouthe (see TRUTH), with specialized form & meaning]

trothplight (-plait') •n. [Archaic] betrothal •adj. [Archaic] betrothed •vt. [Archaic] to betroth

trotline (trät´lain') •n. a strong fishing line suspended over the water, with short, baited lines hung from it at intervals [TROT + LINE¹]

Trotsky (trät´ski:), Leon (born Lev Davidovich Bronstein) 1879-1940; Russ. revolutionist: commissar of war (1918-24) under Lenin: exiled (1929) Trot´sky·ism' •n. Trot´sky·ist or (often considered disparaging) Trot´sky·ite' •adj., n.

trotter (trät´эr) •n. 1 an animal that trots; esp., a horse bred and trained for trotting races 2 a person who moves about energetically and constantly 3 the foot of a sheep or pig used as food

trotyl (trou´til) •n. TRINITROTOLUENE [(TRINI)TROT(OLUENE) + -YL]

troubadour (tru:´bэ dör') •n. 1 any of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians in S France and N Spain and Italy during the 11th through 13th cent. who wrote poems and songs of love and chivalry, usually with intricate stanza form and rhyme scheme: cf. TROUVÈRE 2 a minstrel or singer [Fr < Prov trobador < trobar, to compose, invent, find < ? VL *tropare, prob. back-form. < contropare, to combine, compare < L con-, with (> OL com: see COM-) + L tropus, TROPE]

trouble (trûb´эl) -bled, -bling •vt. 1 to disturb or agitate {troubled waters} 2 to cause mental agitation to; worry; harass; perturb; vex 3 to cause pain or discomfort to; afflict {my back troubled me} 4 to cause difficulty or inconvenience to; incommode {don't trouble yourself to rise} 5 to pester, annoy, tease, bother, etc. •vi. 1 to make an effort; take pains; bother {don't trouble to return it} 2 to be distressed; worry •n. 1 a state of mental distress; worry 2 a) a misfortune; calamity; mishap b) a distressing or difficult happening or situation c) a condition of being out of order, needing repair, etc. {tire trouble} 3 a person, circumstance, or event that causes annoyance, distress, difficulty, etc. 4 public disturbance; civil disorder 5 effort; bother; pains {to take the trouble to look it up} 6 an illness; ailment; disease in trouble [Colloq.] pregnant when unmarried trouble someone for to ask someone to pass, hand, give, etc. (something) to one trou´bler •n. [ME trublen < OFr trubler < VL *turbulare, altered (infl. by L turbula, disorderly group, dim. of turba, crowd) < LL turbidare, to trouble, make turbid < L turbidus, TURBID]

troublemaker (trûb´эl meik'эr) •n. a person who habitually makes trouble for others; esp., one who incites others to quarrel, rebel, etc. trou´ble·mak'ing •n.

trouble-shooter (-shu:t'эr) •n. 1 a person who locates and repairs mechanical breakdowns 2 a person charged with locating and eliminating the source of trouble in any flow of work trou´ble-shoot'ing •n.

troublesome (trûb´эl sэm) •adj. characterized by or causing trouble, irritation, difficulty, distress, inconvenience, etc. trou´ble·some·ly •adv. trou´ble·some·ness •n.

troublous (trûb´lэs) •adj. [Chiefly Literary] 1 troubled; agitated; disturbed; unsettled 2 TROUBLESOME [ME troubelous < OFr troubleus]

trou-de-loup (tru:'dэ lu:´) pl. trous'-de-loup´ (tru:'-) •n. Mil. any of the conical pits with a vertical pointed stake in the center of each, formerly built in rows as an obstacle to the enemy, esp. to enemy cavalry [Fr, lit., wolf hole]

trough (tröf, träf) •n. 1 a long, narrow, open container of wood, stone, etc. for holding water or food for animals 2 any similarly shaped vessel, as one for kneading or washing something 3 a channel or gutter, esp. one under the eaves of a building, for carrying off rainwater 4 a long, narrow hollow or depression, as between waves 5 a low in any cycle, esp. in an economic cycle 6 a long, narrow area of low barometric pressure [ME < OE trog, akin to Ger < IE *druk- < base *deru-, TREE: basic sense, hollowed wooden object]

trounce (trauns) trounced, trounc´ing •vt. 1 to beat; thrash; flog 2 [Colloq.] to defeat soundly trounc´er •n. [< ?]

troupe (tru:p) •n. a group of actors, singers, etc.; company •vi. trouped, troup´ing to travel as a member of a troupe SYN. TROOP [Fr, a TROOP]

trouper (tru:p´эr) •n. 1 a member of a troupe 2 an experienced, dependable actor

troupial (tru:´pi: эl) •n. any of a New World family (Icteridae) of gregarious birds, including the bobolinks, blackbirds, and orioles; specif., a large, orange-and-black oriole (Icterus icterus) of South America [Fr troupiale < troupe (see TROOP): from their gregarious habit]

trousers (trau´zэrz) •n.pl. an outer garment, esp. for men and boys, extending from the waist generally to the ankles, and divided into separate coverings for the legs; pants trou´ser •adj. [lengthened (prob. modeled on DRAWERS) < obs. trouse < Gael triubhas, TREWS]

trousseau (tru: sou´, tru:´sou) pl. -seaux´ (-souz´) •n.or -seaus´ a bride's outfit of clothes, linens, etc. [Fr < OFr, dim. of trousse, a bundle: see TRUSS]

trout (traut) pl. trout or trouts •n. 1 any of various salmonoid food and game fishes (family Salmonidae) that are usually speckled and found chiefly in fresh water, as the brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and lake trout 2 any of several other troutlike fishes [ME troute < OE truht < LL tructus, tructa < Gr trōktēs, kind of fish < trōgein, to gnaw: see TROGLODYTE]

trout lily DOGTOOTH VIOLET

trout-perch (traut´pørch') pl. -perch' •n.or -perch'es any of a family (Percopsidae) of North American freshwater bony fishes having spiny and fleshy fins, esp., a species (Percopsis omiscomaycus) of Canada and the E U.S. [TROUT + PERCH¹]

trouvère (tru: ver´) •n. any of a class of lyric and narrative poets and poet-musicians in N France, flourishing in the 12th and 13th cent.: also trou·veur´ (-vør´) [Fr < OFr trovere < trover, to find, compose (akin to Prov trobar: see TROUBADOUR)]

Trouville (třu: vi:l´) resort town in NW France, on the English Channel: pop. 7,000: also Trou·ville-sur-Mer (třu: vi:l süř meř´)

trove (trouv) •n. short for TREASURE-TROVE

trover (trou´vэr) •n. Law 1 orig., an action against a person who found another's goods and refused to return them 2 an action to recover damages for goods withheld or used by another illegally [substantive use of OFr trover, to find: see TROUVÈRE]

trow (trou, trau) •vi., vt. [Archaic] to believe, think, suppose, etc. [ME trowen < OE treowian, to have trust in (akin to Ger trauen) < treow, faith, belief: see TRUE]

trowel (trau´эl) •n. any of several small hand tools for spreading, smoothing, scooping, etc.; specif., a) a tool with a thin, flat, rectangular blade, used for smoothing plaster b) a tool with a thin, flat, pointed blade for applying and shaping mortar, as in bricklaying c) a tool with a pointed scoop for loosening soil, digging holes, etc. in a garden •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling to spread, smooth, shape, dig, etc. with a trowel [ME truel < MFr truelle < LL truella for L trulla, small ladle, scoop, trowel < trua, stirring spoon, ladle, prob. < IE base *twer-, to stir > TURBID]

Troy (troi) 1 ancient Phrygian city in Troas, NW Asia Minor: scene of the Trojan War 2 city in E N.Y., on the Hudson: pop. 54,000: see SCHENECTADY [after ancient Troy] 3 city in SE Mich.: suburb of Detroit: pop. 73,000 [after ancient Troy] [L troja < Gr Trōïa, after Trōs, father of Ilos: see ILIAD] troy (troi) •adj. by or in troy weight

troy weight a system of weights for gold, silver, precious stones, etc. [ME, after prec., where first used at medieval fairs]

Troyes , Chrétien de see CHRÉTIEN DE TROYES Troyes (třwå) city in NE France, on the Seine: pop. 67,000

truancy (tru:´эn si:) •n. 1 pl. -cies the act or an instance of playing truant 2 the state of being truant

truant (tru:´эnt) •n. 1 [Obs.] a lazy, idle person 2 a pupil who stays away from school without permission 3 a person who neglects his or her work or duties •adj. 1 that is a truant; that plays truant 2 idle; shiftless 3 characteristic of a truant; errant; straying •vi. to be or play truant [ME < OFr, beggar, vagabond < Celt, as in Ir trōgán, dim. of truag, wretched]

truant officer ATTENDANCE OFFICER

truce (tru:s) •n. 1 a temporary cessation of warfare by agreement between the belligerents; armistice; cease-fire 2 any pause in or respite from quarreling, conflict, trouble, etc. [ME trewes, pl. of trewe, a pledge < OE treow, compact, faith: see TRUE]

Trucial Oman (tru:'shэl ou män´) region in E Arabia, on the coast (Trucial Coast) of the Persian Gulf: see UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Trucial States seven semi-independent Arab sheikdoms in Trucial Oman, under British protection: since 1971, an independent country called UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

truck farm a farm where vegetables are grown to be marketed truck farmer truck farming

truck stop a restaurant in conjunction with a service station, located as along an interstate highway and catering especially to truck drivers

truck system the system of paying wages in goods produced instead of money

truck¹ (trûk) •n. 1 [Historical] a small, solid wheel or roller, esp. one for a gun carriage 2 a small, wooden block or disk with holes for halyards, esp. one at the top of a flagpole or mast 3 a kind of barrow, consisting of an open frame with a pair of wheels at one end and handles at the other, used to carry trunks, crates, etc.: also called hand truck 4 any of various low frames or platforms on wheels, sometimes motor-driven, for carrying heavy articles, as in a warehouse Æ 5 an automotive vehicle for hauling loads along highways, streets, etc.; motor truck 6 a swiveling frame with two or more pairs of wheels, usually provided with brakes and springs, forming the wheel unit under each end of a railroad car, streetcar, etc. 7 [Brit., etc.] an open railroad freight car •vt. to carry or transport on a truck or trucks •vi. 1 to do trucking 2 to drive a truck as one's work Æ truck (on) down [Slang] to walk in a carefree, leisurely manner; stroll [< ? L trochus, a hoop < Gr trochos, a wheel, disk: see TROCHE]

truck² (trûk) •vt., vi. 1 to exchange; barter 2 [Rare] to peddle •n. [Anglo-Fr truke < MFr troque < the v.] 1 BARTER 2 payment of wages in goods produced instead of money 3 small commercial articles 4 small articles of little value Æ 5 vegetables raised for sale in markets 6 [Colloq.] dealings {have no further truck with them} 7 [Colloq.] trash; rubbish [ME trukken < MFr troquer, to exchange, barter < ?]

truckage (trûk´ij) •n. 1 transportation of goods by truck 2 the charge for this

trucker¹ (trûk´эr) •n. 1 a person who drives a truck; truck driver 2 a person or company engaged in trucking

trucker² (trûk´эr) •n. Æ 1 a truck farmer 2 a person who sells commodities or engages in barter

trucking (trûk´iŋ) •n. the business or process of carrying goods by truck

truckle (trûk´эl) •n. 1 orig., a small wheel or caster 2 short for TRUCKLE BED •vi. -led, -ling to be servile; cringe, submit, toady, etc.: usually with to [< TRUCKLE (BED): with reference to its low position] [ME trocle < L trochlea, pulley, roller: see TROCHLEA]

truckle bed TRUNDLE BED

truckload (trûk´loud') •n. 1 a load that fills a truck 2 the minimum weight of a specific commodity qualifying as a truckload of that commodity in rates that apply to the shipment of goods by truck

truckman (trûk´mэn) pl. -men •n. one who drives a truck or is engaged in trucking; trucker

truculent (trûk´yu: lэnt, -yэ-) •adj. 1 fierce; cruel; savage; ferocious 2 rude, harsh, mean, scathing, etc.: said esp. of speech or writing 3 pugnacious or bellicose truc´u·lence or truc´u·len·cy •n. truc´u·lent·ly •adv. [< L truculentus < trux (gen. trucis), fierce, savage]

Trudeau (tru: dou´, tru:´dou'), Pierre Elliott 1919- ; prime minister of Canada (1968-79; 1980-84)

trudge (trûj) trudged, trudg´ing •vi. to walk, esp. wearily or laboriously •n. a walk or tramp, esp. a wearying, tedious one trudg´er •n. [< ?]

trudgen stroke (trûj´эn) a swimming stroke in which a double overarm motion and a scissors kick are used [after J. Trudgen, Eng amateur who introduced it (1868)]

Trudy (tru:´di:) a feminine name: see GERTRUDE

true (tru:) tru´er, tru´est •adj. 1 faithful; loyal; constant 2 reliable; certain {a true indication} 3 in accordance with fact; that agrees with reality; not false 4 a) conforming to an original, pattern, rule, standard, etc. b) exact; accurate; right; correct 5 rightful; lawful; legitimate {the true heirs} 6 accurately fitted, placed, or shaped {a door that is not true to the frame} 7 a) real; genuine; authentic {a true diamond} b) conforming to the ideal character or having all the basic characteristics of such; rightly so called {a true scholar} 8 determined by the poles of the earth's axis, not by the earth's magnetic poles {true north} 9 [Archaic] honest, virtuous, or truthful •adv. 1 in a true manner; truly, truthfully, accurately, etc. 2 Biol. in accordance with the parental type; without variation {a plant that breeds true} •vt. trued, tru´ing or true´ing to fit, place, or shape accurately: often with up •n. that which is true; truth or reality: with the come true to happen in fulfillment of an expectation, prediction, wish, etc.; become a realized fact in true properly set, adjusted, aligned, etc.; exact out of true not properly set, adjusted, aligned, etc.; inexact true to form behaving as might be expected true´ness •n. SYN.—true, actual, and real are often used interchangeably to imply correspondence with fact, but in discriminating use, true implies conformity with a standard or model [a true democrat] or with what actually exists [a true story], actual stresses existence or occurrence and is, hence, strictly applied to concrete things [actual and hypothetical examples], and real highlights a distinction between what something is and what a substitute, counterfeit, etc. seems or pretends to be [real rubber, real courage] [ME treue < OE treowe < treow, faith, akin to Ger treu < IE *drew-, var. of base *deru- > TREE: basic sense firm (as a tree)]

true believer a dedicated follower or disciple, esp. a person whose devotion to another, a cause, etc. is blind or unquestioning

true bill a bill of indictment endorsed by a grand jury as supported by evidence sufficient to warrant a trial

true fruit Bot. a fruit derived from a single carpel or from the united carpels of a single flower

true ribs ribs that are attached by cartilage directly to the sternum; in humans, the upper seven pairs of ribs

true-blue (tru:´blu:´) •adj. very loyal; staunch

trueborn (tru:´börn´) •adj. being genuinely such, specif. by birth {a trueborn New Yorker}

truebred (tru:´bred´) •adj. 1 WELL-BRED 2 PUREBRED

true-false test (tru:´föls´) a test, as of knowledge or attitudes, consisting of a series of statements to be identified as either true or false

truehearted (tru:´härt'id) •adj. 1 loyal; faithful 2 honest or sincere true´heart'ed·ness •n.

true-life (tru:´laif´) •adj. corresponding to what happens in real life; true to reality {a true-life story}

truelove (tru:´lûv') •n. 1 a person who loves or is loved truly; (one's) sweetheart 2 HERB PARIS

truelove knot a kind of bowknot that is hard to untie, a symbol of lasting love: also true´-lov'er's knot

truepenny (tru:´pen'i:) pl. -nies •n. [Archaic] an honest or trusty person

Truffaut (tru: fou´; Fr třü fou´), Fran·çois (fřäñ swå´) 1932-84; Fr. film director

truffle (trûf´эl) •n. 1 any of an order (Tuberales) of fleshy, edible, potato-shaped ascomycetous fungi that grow underground; esp., any of a European genus (Tuber) which are cultivated and regarded as a delicacy 2 any of a number of rich chocolate candies made to resemble this in shape and color [< Fr truffe < OIt truffa < VL *trufera < Osco-Umb *tufer, for L tuber: see TUBER]

trug (trûg) •n. [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a broad, shallow, wooden gardener's basket [prob. via Scand < base akin to OE trog, TROUGH]

truism (tru:´iz'эm) •n. a statement the truth of which is obvious or well known; commonplace SYN. PLATITUDE tru·is´tic •adj.

Trujillo (tru: hi:´you) city in NW Peru: pop. 356,000

Trujillo Alto (tru: hi:'you äl´tou) city in NE Puerto Rico: pop. 44,000

Truk Islands (trûk, truk) island group in the E Caroline Islands, W Pacific: c. 40 sq. mi. (103 sq. km); pop. 37,000

trull (trûl) •n. [Archaic] a prostitute or trollop [< Ger trulle < earlier trolle: see TROLL²]

truly (tru:´li:) •adv. 1 in a true manner; accurately, genuinely, faithfully, factually, etc. 2 really; indeed: often used as an interjection of surprise, confirmation, etc. 3 sincerely: used in the formal complimentary close of a letter {yours truly, very truly yours} 4 rightfully; legally

Truman (tru:´mэn), Harry S 1884-1972; 33d president of the U.S. (1945-53)

Trumbull (trûm´bэl) 1 John 1756-1843; U.S. painter 2 Jonathan 1710-85; Am. Revolutionary patriot: father of John

trump¹ (trûmp) •n. 1 any playing card of a suit that ranks higher than any other suit during the playing of a hand: a trump can take any card of any other suit 2 [occas. pl., with sing. v.] a suit of trumps 3 any advantage held in reserve until needed 4 [Colloq.] a fine person, good fellow, etc. •vt. 1 to play a trump on (a trick, another card, etc.) when a trump was not led, often, specif., so as to take it thereby 2 to surpass; outdo •vi. to play a trump when a trump was not led trump up to devise or make up (a charge against someone, an excuse, etc.) fraudulently [altered < TRIUMPH]

trump² (trûmp) •n., vt., vi. archaic var. of TRUMPET [ME trumpe < OFr trompe < Frank *trumpa or OHG trumba, of echoic orig.]

trumped-up (trûmpt´ûp´) •adj. fraudulently devised or concocted; false

trumpery (trûmp´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 something showy but worthless 2 nonsense; rubbish •adj. showy but worthless; trashy; paltry [ME trompery < MFr tromperie < tromper, to deceive, cheat < ? tromper, to play the trumpet: see TRUMP²]

trumpet (trûm´pэt) •n. 1 a brass instrument with a bright tone, consisting of a tube in an oblong loop or loops, with a flared bell and, in the modern instrument, three valves for producing changes in key 2 a person who plays the trumpet 3 something shaped like a trumpet; esp., EAR TRUMPET Æ 4 [pl.] a pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava) of the SE U.S., with slender, erect, hollow leaves 5 a sound like that of a trumpet, esp. one made by an elephant 6 a trumpet-toned organ stop •vi. 1 to blow a trumpet 2 to make a sound like a trumpet •vt. 1 to sound on a trumpet 2 to sound or utter with a trumpetlike tone 3 to proclaim loudly [ME trompette < MFr, dim. of trompe: see TRUMP²]

trumpet creeper 1 a high-climbing vine (Campsis radicans) of the bignonia family, native to the S U.S. and having red, trumpet-shaped flowers 2 a similar Chinese vine (Campsis chinensis) of the bignonia family

trumpet flower 1 any of a number of plants with trumpet-shaped flowers, as the trumpet creeper and the trumpet honeysuckle 2 the flower of any of these

trumpet honeysuckle an American honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) with trumpet-shaped flowers

trumpet vine any of various plants having trumpet-shaped flowers, as the trumpet creeper

trumpeter (trûm´pэt эr) •n. 1 a) orig., a soldier, herald, etc. who signals on a trumpet b) any person who plays the trumpet, as in a band or orchestra 2 a person who proclaims or heralds something 3 any of a family (Psophiidae) of cranelike, South American gruiform birds having a loud cry Æ 4 TRUMPETER SWAN 5 any of a breed of domestic pigeons with feathered feet and a rounded crest

trumpeter swan a North American wild swan (Olor buccinator) with a loud, resonant cry

trumpetweed (trûm´pэt weed') •n. any of several eupatoriums, as the joe-pye weed or boneset

truncate (trûŋ´keit', trûn´-) -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. to cut off a part of; shorten by cutting; lop •adj. 1 TRUNCATED 2 Biol. having a square, flattened, or broad end 3 Zool. lacking a normal apex, as some snail shells trun·ca´tion •n. [< L truncatus, pp. of truncare, to cut off < truncus, a stem, TRUNK]

truncated (-id) •adj. 1 cut short or appearing as if cut short 2 a) cut off or replaced by a plane face (said of the angles or edges of a crystal or solid figure) b) having its angles or edges cut off or replaced in this way (said of the crystal or solid figure) 3 having the vertex cut off by a plane that is not parallel to the base: said of a cone or pyramid: see FRUSTUM 4 TRUNCATE (adj. 2 & 3)

truncheon (trûn´chэn) •n. 1 [Obs.] a short, thick club; cudgel 2 any staff or baton used as a symbol of authority 3 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a policeman's stick or billy 4 [Obs.] the shaft of a spear 5 [Obs.] a trunk or stem, esp. one with the branches lopped off •vt. [Archaic] to beat with a truncheon [ME tronchoun < OFr tronchon < VL *truncio < L truncus, a stem, TRUNK]

trundle (trûn´dэl) •n. 1 a small wheel or caster 2 short for TRUNDLE BED 3 a) LANTERN PINION b) any of its bars 4 [Obs.] a small cart or truck with low wheels •vt., vi. -dled, -dling 1 to roll along 2 to move along in a wheeled vehicle 3 to rotate trun´dler •n. [altered < earlier trendle < OE trendel, a ring, circle < trendan, to roll: see TREND]

trundle bed a low bed on small wheels or casters, that can be rolled under another bed when not in use

trunk (trûŋk) •n. 1 the main stem of a tree 2 the body of a human being or animal, not including the head and limbs 3 the thorax of an insect 4 the main body or stem of a nerve, blood vessel, etc., as distinguished from its branches 5 a long, flexible snout or proboscis, as of an elephant 6 a large, reinforced box or chest, used in traveling or for storage, as to hold clothing and personal effects 7 a large, long, boxlike pipe, shaft, etc. for conveying air, water, etc. 8 [pl.] TRUNK HOSE Æ 9 [pl.] shorts worn by men for athletics, esp. for boxing or swimming Æ 10 short for TRUNK LINE Æ 11 a compartment in an automobile, usually in the rear, for holding a spare tire, luggage, etc. 12 Archit. the shaft of a column 13 Naut. a) the part of a cabin above the upper deck b) a boxlike or funnel-like casing, as for a centerboard or for connecting upper and lower hatches [ME tronke < OFr tronc < L truncus, a stem, trunk < truncus, maimed, mutilated < IE *tronkus < base *trenk-, to press together, crowd > THRONG]

trunk hose full, baggy breeches reaching about halfway down the thigh, worn in the 16th and 17th cent.

trunk line a main line of a railroad, canal, telephone system, etc.

trunkfish (trûŋk´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of a family (Ostraciidae, order Tetraodontiformes) of tropical bony fishes having the body encased in fused, bony plates, with only the mouth, eyes, fins, and tail projecting through

trunnel (trûn´эl) •n. var. of TREENAIL

trunnion (trûn´yэn) •n. 1 either of two projecting pivots, located on each side of a cannon or its mount, by which the muzzle is raised and lowered 2 either of any similar pair of pins or pivots [Fr trognon, a stump, trunk]

truss (trûs) •vt. 1 orig., to tie into a bundle 2 to tie or bind: often with up 3 to skewer or bind the wings and legs of (a fowl) before cooking 4 to support or strengthen with a truss •n. [ME trusse < OFr trousse < trousser] 1 a bundle or pack; specif., in England, a bundle of hay in any of various unit weights 2 an iron band around a mast, having a gooseneck for securing a yard 3 an architectural bracket or modillion 4 a flower cluster growing at the tip of a stem 5 a rigid framework of beams, girders, struts, bars, etc. for supporting a roof, bridge, etc. 6 an appliance for giving support in cases of rupture or hernia, usually consisting of a pad on a special belt truss´er •n. [ME trussen < OFr trousser, to bundle together, pack < ? VL *torsare < *torsus, for L tortus, pp. of torquere, to twist: see TORT]

truss bridge a bridge supported chiefly by trusses

trussing (trûs´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person who trusses 2 the beams, rods, etc. forming a truss 3 constructional trusses collectively 4 a bracing by or as by trusses

trust (trûst) •n. 1 a) firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith; reliance b) the person or thing trusted 2 confident expectation, anticipation, or hope {to have trust in the future} 3 a) the fact of having confidence placed in one b) responsibility or obligation resulting from this 4 keeping; care; custody 5 something entrusted to one; charge, duty, etc. 6 confidence in a purchaser's intention or future ability to pay for goods or services delivered; credit {to sell on trust} 7 a) an industrial or business combination, now illegal in the U.S., in which management and control of the member corporations are vested in a single board of trustees, who are thus able to control a market, absorb or eliminate competition, fix prices, etc. b) CARTEL (sense 3): see also MONOPOLY 8 Law a) the confidence reposed in a person who has been given nominal ownership of property, which is to be kept, used, or administered for another's benefit b) property under the charge of a trustee or trustees c) a trustee or group of trustees d) a person's right to property held in trust for him or her 9 [Archaic] trustworthiness; loyalty •vi. [ME trusten, altered (based on the n.) < ON treysta, to trust, confide < base of traust] 1 to have trust or faith; place reliance; be confident 2 to hope 3 to give business credit •vt. 1 a) to believe in the honesty, integrity, justice, etc. of; have confidence in b) to rely or depend on {trust them to be on time} 2 to commit (something) to a person's care 3 to put something confidently in the charge of {to trust a lawyer with one's case} 4 to allow to do something without fear of the outcome {to trust a child to go to the store} 5 to believe or suppose 6 to expect confidently; hope 7 to grant business credit to •adj. 1 relating to a trust or trusts 2 held in trust 3 managing for an owner; acting as trustee SYN. BELIEF, MONOPOLY, RELY in trust in the condition of being entrusted to another's care trust to to rely on trust´a·ble •adj. trust´er •n. [ME < ON traust, trust, lit., firmness < IE *drou-sto- < base *deru-, tree > TREE, TRUE + sto-, standing < base *sta-, to STAND]

trust account 1 TRUST (n. 8b) 2 a savings account in a bank, the balance of which, at the death of the depositor, goes to a predesignated beneficiary

trust company 1 a company formed to act as trustee 2 a bank organized to handle trusts and carry on all banking operations except the issuance of bank notes

trust fund money, securities, etc. held in trust

trust territory a territory placed under the administrative authority of a country by the United Nations

trustbuster (-bûs'tэr) •n. a person, esp. a federal official, who seeks to dissolve corporate trusts through the vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws trust´bust'ing •n.

trustee (trûs ti:´) •n. 1 a person to whom another's property or the management of another's property is entrusted 2 a nation under whose authority a trust territory is placed 3 any of a group or board of persons appointed to manage the affairs of an institution or organization Æ 4 in some States, a person in whose hands the property of a debtor is attached by means of garnishment; garnishee •vt. -eed´, -ee´ing 1 to commit (property or management) to a trustee or trustees Æ 2 to attach by means of garnishment

trusteeship (trûs ti:´ship) •n. 1 the position or function of a trustee 2 a) a commission from the United Nations to a country to administer a trust territory b) the condition or fact of being a trust territory

trustful (trûst´fэl) •adj. full of trust; ready to confide or believe; trusting trust´ful·ly •adv. trust´ful·ness •n.

trusting (trûst´iŋ) •adj. that trusts; trustful trust´ing·ly •adv. trust´ing·ness •n.

trustless (trûst´lis) •adj. [Now Rare] 1 not to be trusted; untrustworthy 2 not trusting; distrustful

trustor (trûs´tэr, trû stör´) Law a person who creates a trust by transferring property to a trustee Also trust´er •n.

trustworthy (trûst´wør'ði:) -thi·er, -thi·est •adj. worthy of trust; dependable; reliable SYN. RELIABLE trust´wor'thi·ly •adv. trust´wor'thi·ness •n.

trusty (trûs´ti:) trust´i·er, trust´i·est •adj. 1 that can be relied upon; dependable; trustworthy 2 obs. var. of TRUSTFUL •n. pl. trust´ies Æ a trusted person; specif., a convict granted special privileges as a trustworthy person SYN. RELIABLE trust´i·ly •adv. trust´i·ness •n.

Truth (tru:θ), So·journ·er (sou´jørn'эr) (orig. a slave called Isabella) c. 1797-1883; U.S. abolitionist & women's-rights advocate truth (tru:θ) pl. truths (tru:ðz, tru:θs) •n. 1 the quality or state of being true; specif., a) orig., loyalty; trustworthiness b) sincerity; genuineness; honesty c) the quality of being in accordance with experience, facts, or reality; conformity with fact d) reality; actual existence e) agreement with a standard, rule, etc.; correctness; accuracy 2 that which is true; statement, etc. that accords with fact or reality 3 an established or verified fact, principle, etc. 4 a particular belief or teaching regarded by the speaker as the true one: often with the in truth truly; in fact of a truth certainly SYN.—truth suggests conformity with the facts or with reality, either as an idealized abstraction [What is truth? said Pilate] or in actual application to statements, ideas, acts, etc. [there is no truth in that rumor]; veracity, as applied to persons or to their utterances, connotes habitual adherence to the truth [I cannot doubt your veracity]; verity, as applied to things, connotes correspondence with fact or with reality [the verity of that thesis]; verisimilitude, as applied to literary or artistic representations, suggests a degree of plausibility sufficient to induce audience belief [the characterizations in that novel lack verisimilitude] —ANT. falseness, falsity [ME treuthe < OE treowth: see TRUE & -TH¹]

truth drug an anesthetic or hypnotic, as thiopental sodium, regarded as tending to make a subject responsive while being questioned Also Æ truth serum

truth table 1 a table showing all the possible combinations of the variables in an expression in symbolic logic and their resulting truth or falsity 2 a similar table showing relationships between input to and output from a computer circuit

truthful (tru:θ´fэl) •adj. 1 telling the truth; presenting the facts; veracious; honest 2 corresponding with fact or reality, as in artistic representation truth´ful·ly •adv. truth´ful·ness •n.

try (trai) tried, try´ing •vt. 1 orig., to separate; set apart 2 a) to melt or render (fat, etc.) to get (the oil) b) to extract or refine (metal, etc.) by heating: usually with out 3 [Now Rare] to settle (a matter, quarrel, etc.) by a test or contest; fight out 4 a) to examine and decide (a case) in a law court b) to determine legally the guilt or innocence of (a person) c) to preside as judge at the trial of (a case or person) 5 to put to the proof; test 6 to subject to trials, annoyance, etc.; afflict {Job was sorely tried} 7 to subject to a severe test or strain {rigors that try one's stamina} 8 to test the operation or effect of; experiment with; make a trial of {to try a new recipe} 9 to attempt to find out or determine by experiment or effort {to try one's fortune in another city} 10 to make an effort at; attempt; endeavor: followed by an infinitive [try to remember] or, colloquially, by and used in place of to as the sign of the infinitive [try and remember] 11 to attempt to open (a door or window) in testing to see whether it is locked 12 [Obs.] to find to be so by test or experience; prove •vi. 1 to make an effort, attempt, or endeavor 2 to make an experiment •n. pl. tries 1 the act or an instance of trying; attempt; effort; trial 2 Rugby a scoring play in which the ball is grounded on or behind the opponent's goal line try on to test the fit or appearance of (an item of clothing, jewelry, etc.) by putting it on try one's hand at to attempt (to do something), esp. for the first time try out Æ 1 to test the quality, result, value, etc. of, as by putting to use; experiment with Æ 2 to test one's fitness, as for a job, a place on an athletic team, a role in a play, etc. SYN.—try is commonly the simple, direct word for putting forth effort to do something [try to come], but specifically it connotes experimentation in testing or proving something [I'll try your recipe]; attempt, somewhat more formal, suggests a setting out to accomplish something but often connotes failure [he had attempted to take his life]; endeavor suggests exertion and determined effort in the face of difficulties [we shall endeavor to recover your loss]; essay connotes a tentative experimenting to test the feasibility of something difficult [she will not essay the high jump]; strive suggests great, earnest exertion to accomplish something [strive to win]; struggle suggests a violent striving to overcome obstacles or to free oneself from an impediment [I struggled to reach the top] [ME trien < OFr trier < ? VL *tritare, to cull out, grind < L tritus, pp. of terere, to rub, thresh grain: see TRITE]

try square an instrument consisting of two pieces set at right angles, used for testing the accuracy of square work and for marking off right angles

trying (trai´iŋ) •adj. that tries one's patience; annoying; exasperating; irksome try´ing·ly •adv.

tryout (trai´aut') •n. [Colloq.] 1 an opportunity to prove, or a test to determine, fitness for a place on an athletic team, a role in a play, etc. 2 a performance of a play before its official opening, as to test audience reaction

trypanosome (trip´э nou soum', tri pæn´ou-) •n. any of a genus (Trypanosoma) of zooflagellates that live as parasites in the blood of human beings and other vertebrates, are usually transmitted by an insect bite, and often cause serious diseases, as sleeping sickness or Chagas' disease [< ModL Trypanosoma < Gr trypanon, borer (see TREPAN¹) + ModL -soma, -SOME³]

trypanosomiasis (trip'э nou'sou mai´э sis, tri pæn'ou-) •n. any disease caused by a trypanosome [ModL: see TRYPANOSOME & -IASIS]

tryparsamide (trip är´sэ maid') •n. a drug, C8H10AsN2NaO4, containing arsenic, used in the treatment of trypanosomiasis [< prec. + ARS(ENIC) + AMIDE]

trypsin (trip´sin) •n. 1 a proteolytic enzyme in the pancreatic juice that hydrolyzes proteins to smaller polypeptides 2 any of several similar enzymes tryp´tic (-tik) •adj. [Ger, prob. < Gr tryein, to wear away (see TRITE) + Ger (pe)psin: see PEPSIN]

trypsinogen (trip sin´ou jэn) •n. the inactive precursor of trypsin, secreted by the pancreas [prec. + -O- + -GEN]

tryptophan (trip´tou fæn') •n. an aromatic, crystalline, essential amino acid, C6H4NHCHCCH2CH(NH2)COOH, produced synthetically and in digestion by the action of trypsin on proteins: see AMINO ACID Also tryp´to·phane' (-fein') [< TRYPT(IC) + -O- + -PHAN(E)]

trysail (trai´seil'; naut., -sэl) •n. a small, sturdy, fore-and-aft sail hoisted when other canvas has been lowered, to keep a vessel's head to the wind in a storm [< naut. phr. a try, the position of lying to in a storm]

tryst (trist) •n. 1 an appointment to meet at a specified time and place, esp. one made secretly by lovers 2 a) a meeting held by appointment b) the place of such a meeting (also trysting place) 3 [Scot.] a market or fair, esp. for cattle •vt., vi. [Chiefly Scot.] to agree to meet tryst´er •n. [ME triste, var. of tristre < OFr, hunting station, hence hunting rendezvous < ?]

tsadi (tsä´di:) name of the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (צ, ץ) •n. [Heb sādhē]

Tsangpo (tsäŋ´pou´) old form of ZANGBO

tsar (tsär, zär) alt. sp. of CZAR (sense 1) •n. tsar´dom •n. tsar´ism' •n. tsar´ist •adj., n.

tsarevitch (tsär´э vich, zär´-) •n. alt. sp. of CZAREVITCH

tsarevna (tsä'rev´nэ, zä-) •n. alt. sp. of CZAREVNA

tsarina (tsæ ri:´nэ, zä-) •n. alt. sp. of CZARINA

Tsaritsyn (tsä ri:´tsin) old name of VOLGOGRAD

Tschaikowsky see TCHAIKOVSKY, Peter Ilich

tsetse fly (tset´si:, tsi:t´-; set´-, si:t´-) any of a family (Glossinidae) of small dipterous flies of central and S Africa, including species that carry the trypanosomes that cause nagana and sleeping sickness [Bantu tsetse, lit., fly that kills animals]

TSgt Technical Sergeant

Tshiluba (chi: lu:´bэ) •n. a Bantu language used as a lingua franca over a wide area of Zaire

T-shirt (ti:´shørt') •n. 1 a collarless, cotton undershirt with short sleeves 2 a similar pullover knit sport shirt [so named because T-shaped]

tsimmes (tsim´эs) •n. a commotion; fuss; to-do [Yidd, lit., a kind of carrot stew]

Tsinan (tsi:´nän´, ji:´-) old form of JINAN

Tsinghai (tsiŋ´hai´, chiŋ´-) old form of QINGHAI

Tsingtao (tsiŋ´tau´, -dau´; chiŋ´-) old form of QINGDAO

Tsinling Shan (tsin´liŋ´ shän´; chin´-, jin´-) old form of QINLING SHAN

Tsitsihar (tsi:´tsi:´här´, chi:´chi:´-) old form of QIQIHAR

tsk (tisk: conventionalized pronun.) •interj., n. clicking or sucking sound made with the tongue, usually repeated one or more times, to express disapproval, genuine or mock sympathy, etc. •vi. to utter tsks

tsoris (tsör´is, tsur´-) •n. trouble, distress, woe, misery, etc. Also written tsor´es, tsor´riss, tsoor´is [Yidd, pl. of tsore, calamity < Heb tsarāh]

tsp 1 teaspoon(s) 2 teaspoonful(s)

T-strap (ti:´stræp') •n. 1 a T-shaped strap over the instep of a shoe 2 a woman's or girl's shoe with such a strap

tsunami (tsu: nä´mi:) pl. -mis •n.or -mi a huge sea wave caused by a great disturbance under an ocean, as a strong earthquake or volcanic eruption See TIDAL WAVE tsu·na´mic (-mik) •adj. [Jpn < tsu, a harbor + nami, a wave]

Tsushima (tsu:´shi: mä'; tsu: shi:´mэ) islands of Japan in the Korea Strait, between Kyushu & Korea: 271 sq. mi. (702 sq. km)

tsutsugamushi disease (tsu:'tsu: gэ mu:´shi:) SCRUB TYPHUS [Jpn < tsutsuga, danger, disease, harm + mushi, insect]

Tsvetayeva (sfэ tä´yэ vэ), Ma·ri·na (Ivanovna) (mэ ri:´nэ) 1892-194l; Russ. poet, essayist, & critic

TU Trade Union Tu Tuesday

tu quoque (tu: kwou´kwei, -kwi:) thou also; you too: a retort accusing an accuser of the same charge [L]

Tuamotu Archipelago (tu:'э mout´u:) group of islands of French Polynesia: 330 sq. mi. (854 sq. km)

tuan (tu: än´) •n. sir or mister: a title of respect for gentlemen in Indonesia and Malaysia [Malay]

Tuareg (twä´reg') •n. 1 pl. -regs' or -reg' a member of a Berber people of the W and central Sahara 2 the Berber dialect of this people [< Ar tawārig, pl. of targwī: meaning unknown]

tuatara (tu:'э tä´rэ) •n. a primitive, amphibious, lizardlike reptile (Sphenodon punctatum) of the SW Pacific, with a row of spines along the back and a well-developed third eye: it is the only extant rhynchocephalian [Maori tuatàra < tua, back (< Proto-Polynesian *tu'a) + tara, spine (< Proto-Polynesian *tala, sharp object)]

tub (tûb) •n. 1 a) a round, broad, open, wooden container, usually formed of staves and hoops fastened around a flat bottom b) any similarly large, open container of metal, stone, etc., as for washing c) as much as a tub will hold 2 a bucket or tram for carrying coal, ore, etc. in a mine 3 a) short for BATHTUB b) [Brit., etc. Colloq.] a bath in a tub 4 [Colloq.] a slow-moving, clumsy ship or boat •vt., vi. tubbed, tub´bing 1 [Colloq.] to wash in a tub 2 [Brit. Colloq.] to bathe (oneself) tub´ba·ble •adj. tub´ber •n. [ME tubbe < MDu; akin to MLowG tobbe, EFris tubbe]

tub chair a usually low-backed easy chair with arms even with the back or sloping up to it in a continuous curve

tuba (tu:´bэ, tyu:´-) pl. tu´bas or tu´bae (-bi:) •n. 1 in ancient Rome, a straight war trumpet 2 any of a group of brass instruments with a conical bore and three to five valves, esp. the large contrabass member [L, a trumpet]

tubal (tu:´bэl, tyu:´-) •adj. of or in a tube, esp. a fallopian tube {a tubal pregnancy}

Tubal-cain (tu:´bэl kein´, tyu:´-) Bible a worker in brass and iron: Gen. 4:22

tubate (tu:´beit', tyu:´-) •adj. having or forming a tube or tubes; tubular

tubby (tûb´i:) -bi·er, -bi·est •adj. 1 shaped like a tub 2 fat and short tub´bi·ness •n.

tube (tu:b, tyu:b) •n. 1 a) a hollow cylinder or pipe of metal, glass, rubber, etc., usually long in proportion to its diameter, used for conveying fluids, etc. b) an instrument, part, organ, etc. resembling a tube {bronchial tubes} 2 a rubber casing inflated with air and used, esp. formerly, with an outer casing to form an automotive tire 3 a cylindrical container made of thin, pliable metal, plastic, etc., fitted at one end with a screw cap, and used for holding pastes or semiliquids, which can be squeezed out Æ 4 short for: a) ELECTRON TUBE b) VACUUM TUBE 5 a) a tubular tunnel for a railroad, subway, etc. b) [Brit.] an underground electric railway; subway 6 Bot. the lower, united part of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx 7 Elec. in a vector field, the tubular space bounded by the lines of electric or magnetic force passing through every point on a closed curve on the outside of a charged body: in full field tube •vt. tubed, tub´ing 1 to provide with, place in, or pass through a tube or tubes 2 to make tubular down the tube (or tubes) [Colloq.] in or into a condition of failure, defeat, etc. Æ the tube [Colloq.] television tube´like' •adj. [Fr < L tubus, a pipe]

tube foot any of numerous small, water-filled, fleshy tubes in most echinoderms, projecting outside the body, often ending in a suction disc, and used in locomotion, securing food, etc.

tube pan a deep, round pan with a hollow tube in the center, for baking cakes

tube sock a stretchable sock in the form of a long tube with no shaped heel

tube top a stretchable, tube-shaped garment for women, which covers the breast but leaves the shoulders and, often, the midriff bare

tubeless tire (tu:b´lis, tyu:b´-) a pneumatic tire without an inner tube: see TIRE²

tubenose (tu:b´nouz', tyu:b´-) •n. any of an order (Procellariiformes) of birds having tubular nostrils, including the shearwaters, petrels, and albatrosses

tuber (tu:´bэr, tyu:´-) •n. 1 a short, thickened, fleshy part of an underground stem, as a potato: new plants develop from the buds, or eyes, that grow in the axils of the minute scale leaves of a tuber 2 Anat. a tubercle or swelling [L, lit., a swelling, knob, truffle < IE *teubh- < base *tēu-, to swell > THUMB, L tumere, to swell]

tubercle (tu:´bэr kэl, tyu:´-) •n. any small, rounded projection or process; specif., a) Bot. any of the wartlike growths on the roots of some plants b) Anat. a knoblike elevation, as on a bone c) Med. any abnormal hard nodule or swelling; specif., the typical nodular lesion of tuberculosis [L tuberculum, dim. of tuber: see TUBER]

tubercle bacillus the bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) causing tuberculosis

tubercular (tu: bør´kyu: lэr, tyu:-, tэ-; -kyэ-) •adj. 1 of, like, or having a tubercle or tubercles 2 of, relating to, or having tuberculosis 3 caused by the tubercle bacillus •n. a person having tuberculosis [< L tuberculum (see TUBERCLE) + -AR]

tuberculate (-lit, -leit') •adj. 1 having or characterized by a tubercle or tubercles: also tu·ber´cu·lat'ed 2 TUBERCULAR tu·ber'cu·la´tion •n. [ModL tuberculatus: see TUBERCLE & -ATE¹]

tuberculin (tu: bør´kyu: lin, tyu:-, tэ-; -kyэ-) •n. a sterile liquid preparation made from the growth products or extracts of a tubercle bacillus culture and injected into the skin as a test for tuberculosis [< L tuberculum (see TUBERCLE) + -IN¹]

tuberculo- (-lou') combining form tubercular: also, before a vowel, tubercul- [< L tuberculum: see TUBERCLE]

tuberculoid (-loid') •adj. resembling a tubercle or tuberculosis

tuberculosis (tu: bør'kyu: lou´sis, tyu:-, tэ-; -kyэ-) •n. an infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacillus and characterized by the formation of tubercles in various tissues of the body; specif., tuberculosis of the lungs; pulmonary phthisis; consumption [ModL: see TUBERCLE & -OSIS]

tuberculous (-bør´kyu: lэs, -kyэ-) •adj. TUBERCULAR

tuberose¹ (tu:b´rouz', tyu:b´-) •n. a perennial Mexican plant (Polianthes tuberosa) of the agave family, growing from a tuber or bulb and having white, sweet-scented flowers borne in racemes [ModL tuberosa < L tuberosus, TUBEROUS]

tuberose² (tu:´bэr ous', tyu:´-) •adj. TUBEROUS

tuberosity (tu:'bэr äs´э ti:, tyu:'-) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or condition of being tuberous 2 a rounded swelling or projection, as on a bone for the attachment of a muscle or tendon [Fr tuberosité < VL tuberositas]

tuberous (tu:´bэr эs, tyu:´-) •adj. 1 covered with wartlike swellings; knobby 2 Bot. of, like, or having a tuber [Fr tubéreux < L tuberosus: see TUBER & -OUS]

tuberous root a tuberlike root without buds or scale leaves, as of the dahlia tu´ber·ous-root'ed •adj.

tubifex (tu:´bi feks', tyu:´-) pl. -fex'es •n.or -fex' any of a genus (Tubifex) of small, freshwater, oligochaete worms, often living in chimneylike tubes: found esp. in polluted waters and often used as food for aquarium fish [ModL < L tubus, tube + -fex < facere, to make, DO¹]

tubing (tu:b´iŋ, tyu:b´-) •n. 1 a series or system of tubes 2 material in the form of a tube 3 a piece or length of tube

Tubman (tûb´mэn) 1 Harriet c. 1820-1913; U.S. abolitionist 2 William V(acanarat) S(hadrach) 1895-1971; president of Liberia (1944-71)

tubular (tu:´byu: lэr, tyu:´-; -byэ-) •adj. 1 of or shaped like a tube 2 made or furnished with a tube or tubes 3 sounding as if produced by blowing through a tube tu'bu·lar´i·ty (-lær´э ti:) •n. tu´bu·lar·ly •adv. [< L tubulus, dim. of tubus, tube, pipe + -AR]

tubulate (for adj., -lit, -leit'; for v., -leit') •adj. TUBULAR (senses 1 & 2) •vt. -lat'ed, -lat'ing to shape into or provide with a tube tu'bu·la´tion •n. [L tubulatus]

tubule (tu:´byu:l', tyu:´-) •n. a small tube; minute tubular structure in an animal or plant [< L tubulus, dim. of tubus, tube]

tubuli- (tu:´byu: li, tyu:´-; -byэ-; -lэ) combining form tubule or tubular {tubuliflorous} [< L tubulus: see TUBULE]

tubuliflorous (tu:'byu: li flör´эs, tyu:'-) •adj. having flowers all or some of whose corollas are tubular: said of certain plants of the composite family [prec. + -FLOROUS]

tubulin (tu:´byu: lin') •n. a protein in cells that polymerizes to form tiny tubules that are important in various cellular structures

tubulous (tu:´byu: lэs, tyu:´-; -byэ-) •adj. 1 TUBULAR (senses 1 & 2) 2 having small, tubelike flowers [TUBUL(E) + -OUS]

tubulure (-lur') •n. a short tubular opening, as at the top of a retort [Fr < L tubulus: see TUBULE & -URE]

Tucana (tu: kei´nэ) a S constellation between Indus and Phoenix containing the Small Magellanic Cloud

tuck¹ (tûk) •vt. 1 to pull up or gather up in a fold or folds; draw together so as to make shorter {to tuck up one's skirt for wading} 2 to sew a fold or folds in (a garment) 3 a) to thrust the edges of (a sheet, napkin, shirt, etc.) under or in, in order to make secure (usually with up, in, etc.) b) to cover or wrap snugly in or as in this way {to tuck a baby in bed} 4 to put or press snugly into a small space; cram; fit {to tuck shoes in a suitcase} 5 a) to put into an empty or convenient place b) to put into a secluded or isolated spot {a cabin tucked in the hills} 6 to put (one's legs) in the position of a TUCK¹ (n. 3) •vi. 1 to draw together; pucker 2 to make tucks •n. 1 a sewed fold in a garment, for shortening or decoration 2 the part of a ship under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks meet 3 a position of the body, esp. in diving, in which the knees are drawn up tightly to the chest 4 [Brit. Slang] food; esp., sweets: used mainly by schoolchildren tuck away 1 to eat (something) heartily 2 to put aside or apart, as for future use tuck in 1 to pull in or contract (one's chin, stomach, etc.) 2 to eat (something) heartily tuck into to eat heartily [ME tuken < MDu tucken, to tuck & OE tucian, to ill-treat, lit., to tug, akin to Ger zucken, to jerk: for IE base see TUG]

tuck² (tûk) •n. [Archaic] a rapier [Fr estoc < OFr estoquier < MDu stocken, to stick, pierce, poke < stok: see STOCK]

tuck³ (tûk, tu:k) •vt. [Scot.] to beat or tap (a drum) •n. a beat or tap, as on a drum [ME tukken < NormFr toker, toquer, var. of OFr toucher, to TOUCH]

tuck4 (tûk) •n. short for TUXEDO

tuckahoe (tûk´э hou') •n. 1 [Historical] any of various roots and tubers, as of arum species, used as food by Algonquian peoples of Virginia 2 a brown, massive, underground, basidiomycetous fungus (Poria cocos) producing an edible, carbohydrate substance [Virginia Algonquian tockawhoughe, type of arum root]

tucker¹ (tûk´эr) •n. 1 a person or device that makes tucks 2 a) a neck and shoulder covering worn with a low-cut bodice by women in the 17th and 18th cent. b) later, a detachable collar or chemisette of thin muslin, etc. 3 [Austral. Slang] food [ME toukere, person who dresses cloth stretched on tenterhooks < touken: see TUCK¹]

tucker² (tûk´эr) •vt. [Colloq.] to tire (out); weary [prob. < TUCK¹, in obs. sense to punish, rebuke]

tucket (tûk´it) •n. [Archaic] a flourish on a trumpet [< TUCK³]

tuck-in (tûk´in') •n. [Brit. Colloq.] a meal, esp. a hearty one

tuck-shop (tûk´shäp') •n. [Brit., etc.] a bakery or confectionery, esp. one in or near a school [TUCK¹, n. 4 + SHOP]

Tucson (tu:´sän', tu: sän´) city in S Ariz.: pop. 405,000 (met. area 667,000) [Sp < Piman tu-uk-so-on, black base, referring to a dark stratum, in a nearby mountain]

Tucumán (tu:'ku: män´) city in N Argentina: pop. 497,000: in full San Mi·guel de Tucumán (sän' mi: gel´ de)

-tude (tu:d, tyu:d) suffix forming nouns state, quality, or instance of being {negritude} [Fr < L -tudo (gen. -tudinis)]

Tudor (tu:´dэr, tyu:-) 1 ruling family of England (1485-1603), descended from Owen Tudor (died 1461), a Welsh nobleman who married the widow of Henry V 2 Antony (born William Cook) 1908-87; Brit. dancer & choreographer in the U.S. •n. a member of the Tudor family •adj. designating or of a style of architecture popular under the Tudors: it is characterized by slightly rounded arches, shallow moldings, extensive paneling, etc.

Tue or Tues Tuesday

Tuesday (tu:z´dei, tyu:z´-; also, -di:) •n. the third day of the week: abbrev. Tue, Tues, Tu, or T [ME Twisdai < OE Tiwes dæg, Tiu's day, rendering L Martis dies: see TIU & DAY]

Tuesdays (-deiz'; also, -di:z) •adv. during every Tuesday or most Tuesdays

tufa (tu:´fэ, tyu:´-) •n. Geol. 1 SINTER (n. 1) 2 obs. term for TUFF tu·fa´ceous (-fei´shэs) •adj. [It tufo, tufa, kind of porous stone < L tofus, tuff, tufa]

tuff (tûf) •n. a porous rock, usually stratified, formed by consolidation of volcanic ash, dust, etc. tuff·a´ceous (-ei´shэs) •adj. [Fr tuf, earlier tufe, tuffe < It tufo, prec.]

tuffet (tûf´it) •n. 1 a tuft of grass 2 a low stool [altered < fol.]

tuft (tûft) •n. 1 a bunch of hairs, feathers, grass, etc. growing closely together or attached at the base 2 any similar cluster; specif., a) a clump of plants or trees b) the fluffy ball forming the end of any of the clusters of threads drawn tightly through a mattress, quilt, etc. to hold the padding in place c) a decorative button to which such a tuft is fastened •vt. 1 to provide or decorate with a tuft or tufts 2 to secure the padding of (a quilt, mattress, etc.) by regularly spaced tufts •vi. to grow in or form into tufts tuft´er •n. tuft´y •adj. [ME (with unhistoric -t) < OFr tufe, prob. < L tufa, a kind of helmet crest]

tufted (tûf´tid) •adj. 1 provided or decorated with tufts 2 formed into or growing in a tuft or tufts

tug (tûg) tugged, tug´ging •vi. 1 to exert great effort in pulling; pull hard; drag; haul: often with at 2 to labor; toil; struggle •vt. 1 to pull at with great force; strain at 2 to drag; haul 3 to tow with a tugboat •n. 1 an act or instance of tugging; hard pull 2 a great effort or strenuous contest 3 a rope, chain, etc. used for tugging or pulling; esp., a trace of a harness 4 short for TUGBOAT SYN. PULL tug´ger •n. [ME tuggen, prob. < ON toga, to draw, pull, akin to OE togian (see TOW¹), teon, to pull < IE base *deuk-, to draw, pull > DUCT]

tug of war 1 a contest in which two teams pull at opposite ends of a rope, each trying to drag the other across a central line 2 any power struggle between two parties

tugboat (tûg´bout') •n. a sturdily built, powerful boat designed for towing or pushing ships, barges, etc.

tugrik (tu:´grik') •n. the basic monetary unit of the Mongolian People's Republic: see MONEY, table [Mongolian tögürig, circle, disk, coin (prob. infl. by duγuriγ, circle, wheel]

tui (tu:´i:) •n. a greenish-blue New Zealand honeyeater (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), with white feathers under the throat: it can mimic human speech [Maori tūī]

tuille (twi:l) •n. in medieval plate armor, any of the lower plates of the tasse, protecting the thigh [ME toile < MFr tuile < OFr tiule < L tegula: see TILE]

Tuinal (tu:´i nöl') trademark for a combination of equal parts of secobarbital sodium and amobarbital sodium, used as a quick and relatively long-acting sedative or hypnotic

tuition (tu: ish´эn, tyu:-) •n. 1 orig., guardianship 2 the charge for instruction, esp. at a college or private school 3 [Now Rare] teaching; instruction tu·i´tion·al •adj. [ME tuicion < OFr < L tuitio, protection < tuitus, pp. of tueri, to watch, protect]

Tula (tu:´lэ) city in W European Russia: pop. 532,000

tularemia (tu:'lэ ri:´mi: э, tyu:'-) •n. an infectious disease of rodents, esp. rabbits, caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis) and transmitted to humans in handling the flesh of infected animals or by the bite of certain insects: it is characterized in humans by an irregular fever, aching, inflammation of the lymph glands, etc.: also sp. tu'la·rae´mi·a tu'la·re´mic •adj. [ModL, after Tulare County, California (< Sp tulares, pl., regions overgrown with tules: see TULE) + -EMIA]

tule (tu:´le; -li:, -lэ) •n. either of two large bulrushes (Scirpus acutus or S. validus) found in lakes and marshes of the SW U.S. [Sp < Nahuatl to:lin, cattail]

tulip (tu:´lip, tyu:´-) •n. 1 any of various bulb plants (genus Tulipa) of the lily family, mostly spring-blooming, with long, broad, pointed leaves and, usually, a single large, cup-shaped, variously colored flower 2 the flower or bulb [Fr tulipe (earlier tulipan) < Turk tülbend, TURBAN: from the flower's resemblance to a turban]

tulip tree a North American forest tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) of the magnolia family, with tulip-shaped, greenish-yellow flowers and conelike fruit: also called tulip poplar

tulipwood (-wud') •n. 1 the light, soft wood of the tulip tree 2 a) any of several woods with stripes or streaks of color b) any tree having such wood

tulle (tu:l) •n. a thin, fine netting of silk, rayon, nylon, etc., used as for veils and scarves [after Tulle, city in France, where first made]

Tully (tûl´i:) old Eng. name for (Marcus Tullius) CICERO

Tulsa (tûl´sэ) city in NE Okla., on the Arkansas River: pop. 367,000 (met. area 709,000) Tul´san •n., adj. [< Creek town name; akin to TALLAHASSEE]

tumble (tûm´bэl) -bled, -bling •vi. 1 to do somersaults, handsprings, or similar acrobatic or gymnastic feats 2 a) to fall suddenly, clumsily, or helplessly b) to fall or decline suddenly, as from power, high value, etc. c) to come down in ruins; collapse 3 to stumble or trip 4 to toss about or roll around 5 to move, go, issue, etc. in a hasty, awkward, or disorderly manner 6 [Colloq.] to have sudden awareness or understanding of some situation: with to •vt. 1 to cause to tumble; make fall, overthrow, topple, roll over, etc. 2 to put into disorder by or as by tossing here and there; disarrange 3 to whirl in a TUMBLER (sense 10) •n. 1 the act or an instance of tumbling; specif., a) a somersault, handspring, etc. b) a fall or decline c) a stumble 2 disorder; confusion 3 a confused heap give (or get) a tumble [Colloq.] to give (or get) some favorable or affectionate notice, attention, etc. [ME tumblen, freq. of tumben < OE tumbian, to fall, jump, dance; akin to Ger tummeln, taumeln < OHG *tumalon, freq. of tumon, to turn < IE base *dheu-, to be turbid > DULL]

tumblebug (tûm´bэl bûg') •n. any of several dung beetles that roll and bury in soil balls of dung, upon which the females deposit their eggs and in which the larvae develop

tumbledown (-daun') •adj. ready to tumble down; dilapidated

tumbler (tûm´blэr) •n. 1 an acrobat or gymnast who does somersaults, handsprings, etc. 2 a dog, such as a small greyhound, formerly trained to seize rabbits after attracting their attention by tumbling about acrobatically 3 a kind of pigeon that does somersaults in flight 4 a) an ordinary drinking glass without foot or stem: orig., such a glass with a rounded or pointed bottom, that would tumble over when set down b) its contents 5 the part of a gunlock through which the mainspring acts upon the hammer 6 a lever, pin, etc., whose position within a lock must be changed, as by a key or dial, in order to release the bolt 7 a projecting piece, as on a revolving or rocking part, that strikes and moves another part 8 a part moving a gear into place in an automobile transmission 9 an easily tipped toy that rights itself because of the way it is weighted 10 a) a device for tumbling laundered clothes about in hot air until they are dry b) TUMBLING BOX

tumbleweed (tûm´bэl wi:d') •n. any of a number of plants, as the pigweed or Russian thistle, that break off near the ground in autumn and are blown about by the wind

tumbling box (or barrel) a revolving box or drum into which loose materials are loaded and tumbled about, as for mixing, polishing, etc.

tumbrel or tumbril (tûm´brэl) •n. 1 a farmer's tip cart, esp. for dung 2 any of the carts used to carry the condemned to the guillotine during the French Revolution [ME tomberel < MFr, tip cart < tomber, to fall, tumble, leap < OHG tumon: see TUMBLE]

tumefacient (tu:'mэ fei´shэnt, tyu:'-) •adj. causing or tending to cause swelling [L tumefaciens, prp. of tumefacere: see TUMEFY]

tumefaction (tu:'mэ fæk´shэn, tyu:'-) •n. 1 a swelling up or becoming swollen 2 a swollen part [MFr]

tumefy (tu:´mэ fai', tyu:´-) -fied', -fy'ing •vt., vi. to make or become swollen [Fr tuméfier, as if < L *tumeficere, for tumefacere, to cause to swell < tumere, to swell (see TUMOR) + facere, to make, DO¹]

tumescence (tu: mes´эns, tyu:-) •n. 1 a swelling; distention 2 a swollen or distended part tu·mes´cent •adj. [< L tumescens, prp. of tumescere, to swell up, inceptive of tumere, to swell: see TUMOR]

tumid (tu:´mid, tyu:´-) •adj. 1 swollen; bulging 2 inflated or pompous tu·mid´i·ty or tu´mid·ness •n. tu´mid·ly •adv. [L tumidus < tumere, to swell: see TUMOR]

tummler or tummeler (tum´lэr) •n. 1 an entertainer or social director whose function is to stimulate participation by the guests, as at a resort on the borscht circuit 2 any person who incites others [Yidd < Ger < tummeln, to move about, bestir oneself: see TUMBLE]

tummy (tûm´i:) pl. -mies •n. [Colloq.] the stomach or abdomen

tumor (tu:´mэr, tyu:´-) •n. 1 a) a swelling on some part of the body b) a mass of new tissue growth independent of its surrounding structures, having no physiological function; neoplasm: such tumors are classified as benign or malignant 2 [Obs.] high-flown language; bombast Brit., etc. sp. tu´mour tu´mor·ous •adj. [L, a swelling < tumere, to swell < IE base *tēu-, to swell > THUMB]

tump (tûmp) •n. [Brit. Dial.] a small mound or clump [< ?]

tumpline (tûmp´lain') •n. a broad strap passed across the forehead and over the shoulders for carrying a load on the back [< earlier tump < mattump < a S New England Algonquian language]

tumular (tu:´myu: lэr, tyu:´-; -myэ-) •adj. of or like a tumulus

tumulose (tu:´myu: lous', tyu:´-; -myэ-) •adj. full of tumuli, or mounds: also tu´mu·lous (-lэs) [L tumulosus]

tumult (tu:´mûlt', tyu:´-; -mэlt) •n. 1 noisy commotion, as of a crowd; uproar 2 confusion; agitation; disturbance 3 great emotional disturbance; agitation of mind, etc. [ME tumulte < MFr < L tumultus, a swelling or surging up, tumult < tumere, to swell: see TUMOR]

tumultuary (tu: mûl´chu: er'i:, tyu:-, tэ-; -chэ wer'i:; -mûl´tyu: er'i:, -tyэ wer'i:) •adj. 1 irregular; disorderly 2 TUMULTUOUS

tumultuous (tu: mûl´chu: эs, tyu:-, tэ-; -chэ wэs; -mûl´tyu: эs, -tyэ wэs) •adj. 1 full of or characterized by tumult; wild and noisy; uproarious 2 making a tumult 3 greatly agitated tu·mul´tu·ous·ly •adv. tu·mul´tu·ous·ness •n. [MFr < L tumultuosus]

tumulus (tu:´myu: lэs, tyu:´-; -myэ-) pl. -li' (-lai') •n.or -lus·es an artificial mound; esp., an ancient burial mound; barrow [L, mound, hillock, akin to tumere: see TUMOR]

Tun Tunisia tun (tûn) •n. 1 a large cask, esp. for wine, beer, or ale 2 a measure of capacity for liquids, usually 252 wine gallons (954 liters) •vt. tunned, tun´ning to put into or store in a tun or tuns [ME tonne < OE tunne, large cask & OFr tonne, both < ML tunna < Celt base]

tuna¹ (tu:´nэ, tyu:´-) pl. tu´na or tu´nas •n. 1 any of various, usually large, marine, scombroid, food and game fishes (esp. genus Thunnus), including the albacore 2 the flesh of various tunas or tunalike fishes, often canned as food: also called tuna fish [AmSp < Sp atún < Ar tūn < L thunnus: see TUNNY]

tuna² (tu:´nэ, tyu:´-) •n. 1 any of various prickly pears (esp. Opuntia tuna), cultivated for their edible fruits 2 the fruit [Sp < Taino]

tunable (tu:n´э bэl, tyu:n´-) •adj. that can be tuned: also sp. tune´a·ble tun´a·ble·ness •n. tun´a·bly •adv.

Tunbridge Wells (tûn´brij' welz´) city & spa in Kent, SE England: pop. 96,000

tundra (tûn´drэ, tun´-) •n. any of the vast, nearly level, treeless plains of the arctic regions [Russ, of Lapp orig.]

tune (tu:n, tyu:n) •n. 1 orig., a tone 2 a) a succession of musical tones forming a rhythmic, catchy whole; melody; air b) a musical setting of a hymn, psalm, poem, etc. 3 the condition of having correct musical pitch, or of being in key; also, harmony; agreement; concord: now used chiefly in the phrases in tune and out of tune {a violin that is in tune, a person out of tune with the times} •vt. tuned, tun´ing 1 to adjust (a musical instrument) to some standard of pitch; put in tune 2 to adapt (music, the voice, etc.) to some pitch, tone, or mood 3 to adapt to some condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement 4 [Now Rare] to utter or express musically 5 to adjust (an electronics circuit or system, a motor, etc.) to the proper or desired performance •vi. to be in tune; harmonize SYN. MELODY call the tune to direct proceedings; be in control change one's tune to change one's attitude or manner, as from scorn to respect sing a different tune to talk or act differently because of a change of attitude to the tune of [Colloq.] to the sum, price, or extent of tune in 1 to adjust a radio or television receiver to a given frequency or channel so as to receive (a specified station, program, etc.) Æ 2 [Slang] to become or make aware, knowing, hip, etc. tune out 1 to adjust a radio or television receiver so as to eliminate (interference, etc.) 2 [Slang] to turn one's attention, sympathies, etc. away from tune up 1 to adjust (musical instruments) to the same pitch, as in an orchestra 2 to bring (an engine, etc.) to the proper condition, as by replacing parts, making adjustments, etc. [ME, var. of tone, TONE]

tuneful (-fэl) •adj. full of tunes or melody; melodious; harmonious tune´ful·ly •adv. tune´ful·ness •n.

tuneless (-lis) •adj. 1 not musical or melodious 2 not producing music; silent tune´less·ly •adv. tune´less·ness •n.

tuner (tu:n´эr, tyu:n´-) •n. a person or thing that tunes; specif., a) a person who tunes musical instruments {a piano tuner} b) the part of a radio receiver that detects signals; esp., a separate unit of a high-fidelity system

tunesmith (tu:n´smiθ', tyu:n´-) •n. [Colloq.] a composer of popular songs

tuneup or tune-up (tu:n´ûp', tyu:n´-) •n. an adjusting, as of an engine, to the proper or required condition

tung oil (tûŋ´ oil') a fast-drying oil derived from the seeds of the tung tree, used in place of linseed oil in paints, varnishes, etc. for a more water-resistant finish [Mandarin t'ung-yu < t'ung, name of the tree + yu, oil]

tung tree (tûŋ´ tri:') a subtropical tree (Aleurites fordii) of the spurge family, whose seeds yield tung oil

tungstate (tûŋ´steit') •n. a salt or ester of tungstic acid

tungsten (tûŋ´stэn) •n. a hard, heavy, gray-white, metallic chemical element, found in wolframite, scheelite, tungstite, etc., and used in steel for high-speed tools, in electric contact points and lamp filaments, etc.: symbol, W; at. wt., 183.85; at. no., 74; sp. gr., 19.35; melt. pt., 3,410°C; boil. pt., 5,927°C tung·sten´ic (-sten´ik) •adj. [Swed, lit., heavy stone, orig. name for scheelite, coined (1755) by A. F. Cronstedt (see NICKEL) < tung, heavy (< IE *tnghu- < base *ten-, to pull > THIN) + sten, akin to OE stan, STONE; used (1783) for element isolated from scheelite by J. J. de Elhuyar (1754-96) & F. de Elhuyar (1755-1833), Sp chemists]

tungsten lamp an electric lamp having filaments of tungsten and a very low wattage

tungsten steel a very hard steel made with tungsten

tungstic (tûŋ´stik) •adj. designating or of a chemical compound containing tungsten, esp. with a valence of five or six

tungstic acid any of a group of acids produced by the combination of tungstic trioxide, WO3, with water; specif., the monohydrate acid, H2WO4

tungstite (tûŋ´stait') •n. a yellow or yellow-green mineral, WO3, native tungstic trioxide: also called tungstic ocher

Tungting (tuŋ´tiŋ´, duŋ´-) old form of DONGTING

Tungus (tun gu:z´, -gu:s´; tuŋ´gэs) •n. 1 pl. -gus´ or -gus´es a member of a people of E Siberia 2 the Tungusic language of this people •adj. of this people or their language or culture [< ?]

Tungusic (tun gu:´zik, -sik) •n. a family of languages belonging to the Altaic language group, spoken in central and NE Asia and including Tungus and Manchu •adj. of these languages or the peoples who speak them

Tunguska Basin (tun gu:s´kä) large coal basin in central Siberia, between the Yenisei & Lena rivers: it is drained by three rivers, the Lower Tunguska, Stony Tunguska, & Upper Tunguska (usually called the Angara River), which flow west into the Yenisei

tunic (tu:´nik, tyu:´-) •n. 1 a loose, gownlike garment worn by men and women in ancient Greece and Rome 2 a blouselike garment extending to the hips or lower, usually gathered at the waist, often with a belt 3 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a short coat forming part of the uniform of soldiers, policemen, etc. 4 a vestment worn over the alb, as formerly by a subdeacon, or by a bishop under the dalmatic 5 a natural covering of a plant, animal, etc. [L tunica < *ktunica, of Sem orig. (prob. via Punic), as in Aram ktūnā, Phoen ktn, garment worn next to the skin (> Gr chitōn)]

tunica (tu:´ni kэ, tyu:´-) pl. -cae' (-si:') •n. Anat., Zool. an enclosing or covering layer of tissue or membrane, as of the ovaries [ModL: see TUNIC]

tunicate (tu:´ni kit, tyu:´-; -keit') •adj. 1 Bot. of or covered with concentric layers or tunics, as an onion 2 Zool. having a tunic or mantle Also tu´ni·cat'ed (-keit'id) •n. any of a subphylum (Tunicata) of solitary or colonial sea chordates, having a saclike body enclosed by a thick tunic, including the salpas and ascidians [L tunicatus, pp. of tunicare, to put on a tunic < tunica, TUNIC]

tunicle (tu:´ni kэl, tyu:´-) •n. TUNIC (sense 4) [ME < L tunicula, dim. of tunica, tunic]

tuning fork a small steel instrument with two prongs, which when struck sounds a certain fixed tone in perfect pitch: it is used as a guide in tuning instruments, in testing hearing, etc.

Tunis (tu:´nis, tyu:´-) 1 capital of Tunisia: seaport near the site of ancient Carthage: pop. 557,000 2 a former Barbary State, which became Tunisia

Tunisia (tu: nizh´э, -i: э; -ni:´zhэ, -zhi: э; -nish´э, -i: э; -ni:´shэ, -shi: э; -niz´i: э, -nis´-; tyu:-) country in N Africa, on the Mediterranean: a French protectorate since 1883, it became independent (1956): a monarchy (1956-57) & a republic since 1957: 48,332 sq. mi. (125,179 sq. km); pop. 7,424,000; cap. Tunis Tu·ni´si·an •adj., n.

tunnage (tûn´ij) •n. TONNAGE

tunnel (tûn´эl) •n. 1 orig., a) a flue b) a funnel 2 a passageway, as through a mountain or under a body of water, as for automotive or rail traffic 3 an animal's burrow 4 any tunnel-like passage, as one in a mine •vt. -neled or -nelled, -nel·ing or -nel·ling 1 to dig (a passage) in the form of a tunnel 2 to make a tunnel through or under 3 to make (one's way) by digging a tunnel •vi. to make a tunnel tun´nel·er or tun´nel·ler •n. [ME tonel, a net with wide opening and narrow end < MFr tonnelle, arbor, semicircular vault < OFr tonnel, dim. of tonne, TUN]

tunnel diode a semiconductor diode, containing many impurities, in which an increase in voltage across the diode first produces an increase in current, then a decrease, and finally another increase: used as an amplifier, oscillator, or computer switching element

tunnel disease DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS

tunnel vision a narrow outlook; specif., the focus of attention on a particular problem without proper regard for possible consequences or alternative approaches

tunny (tûn´i:) pl. -nies or -ny TUNA¹ (sense 1) •n. [MFr thon < Prov ton < L tunnus, thunnus < Gr thynnos]

tup (tûp) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] 1 a male sheep; ram 2 the striking part of a pile driver or power hammer •vt. tupped, tup´ping [Chiefly Brit.] to copulate with (a ewe): said of a ram [ME tupe]

tupelo (tu:´pэ lou') pl. -los' •n. 1 any of a genus (Nyssa) of the sour-gum family of tall North American trees found in moist forests or swamps, including the black gum and cotton gum 2 the fine-textured wood of such a tree, used for mallets, furniture, etc. [< ? Creek *'topilwa, lit., swamp tree < íto, tree + opílwa, swamp]

Tupi (tu: pi:´, tu:´pi:) •n. 1 pl. Tu·pis´ or Tu·pi´ a member of a group of South American Indian peoples living chiefly along the Brazilian coast and the lower Amazon and in part of Paraguay 2 the language of these peoples: an earlier form was used as a lingua franca in the Amazon region 3 a widely distributed South American Indian language stock consisting of seven language families, including Tupi-Guaraní Also Tu·pí Tu·pi´an •adj. [Tupi, comrade]

Tupi-Guaraní (-gwä'rä ni:´) •n. a language family of the Tupi language stock, including the Guaraní and Tupi languages, spoken from N Brazil to Uruguay and Argentina

tuppence (tûp´эns) •n. alt. sp. of TWOPENCE

Tupungato (tu:'pun gät´ou) mountain of the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile: 22,310 ft. (6,800 m)

tuque (tu:k, tyu:k) •n. a winter cap consisting of a knitted bag tapered and closed at both ends, worn with one end tucked into the other [CdnFr < Fr toque: see TOQUE]

turban (tør´bэn) •n. 1 any of various styles of headdress worn by men in the Middle East and Orient, consisting of a length of cloth wound in folds about the head, often over a cap: the style of the turban often indicates the position or rank of the wearer 2 any similar headdress; esp., a) a scarf or bandanna wound around the head, worn by women b) a woman's hat with no brim or a very short brim turned up closely tur´baned (-bэnd) •adj. [earlier turbant < MFr < It turbante < Turk tülbend, dial. form of dülbend < Pers dulbänd, turban, sash]

turbellarian (tør'bэ ler´i: эn) •n. any of a class (Turbellaria) of flatworms, mostly aquatic and nonparasitic, characterized by a leaf-shaped body covered with many cilia [< ModL Turbellaria < L turbellae, a bustle, stir, dim. of turba, a crowd (see TURBID), disturbance (from water currents caused by the cilia) + -AN]

turbid (tør´bid, -bэd) •adj. 1 muddy or cloudy from having the sediment stirred up 2 thick, dense, or dark, as clouds or smoke 3 confused; perplexed; muddled tur·bid´i·ty or tur´bid·ness •n. tur´bid·ly •adv. [L turbidus < turba, a crowd < IE *turb- < base *twer-, to stir up > OE thwirel, stirring rod, churn handle]