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| trou·ble [ trúbb'l ] |
noun (plural trou·bles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. condition of distress: a condition of distress, anxiety, or danger
  When the bills started to come in, we realized we were in serious trouble.
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2. somebody or something upsetting: a source or cause of worry, distress, or concern
This car has been nothing but trouble.
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3. source of difficulty: something that is extremely difficult or presents a problem
I'm sorry I'm late - I had trouble getting the car to start.
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4. real or apparent weakness: an actual or perceived failing or drawback
Your trouble is that you give up too easily.
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5. medicine medical problems: an illness or physical condition involving a particular body part that is not functioning as it should
on sick leave with back trouble
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6. effort: the effort or exertion involved in doing something
I hope you like your CD - I went to a lot of trouble to find it.
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7. disorder or unrest: disorder or unruly behavior in a public place
crowd trouble
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8. malfunctioning: a condition in which something mechanical or electronic is not functioning or operating as it should
My car has engine trouble.
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verb (past and past participle trou·bled, present participle trou·bling, 3rd person present singular trou·bles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb worry or upset somebody: to cause worry, distress, or concern to somebody or something
I'm troubled by the fact that she hasn't been in touch.
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2. transitive verb physically affect somebody: to cause pain or discomfort to somebody or something
My arthritis troubles me from time to time.
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3. transitive verb impose on somebody: to put somebody to the inconvenience of doing something
Could I trouble you to open the window?
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4. transitive and intransitive verb make effort: to make an effort to do something or take pains in doing it
He hadn't troubled to check the figures.
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5. transitive verb make something rough: to agitate or disturb something, especially the surface of water
(
often passive
)
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| [13th century. Via Old French troubler< late Latin turbidare< Latin turbidus "confused, muddy"] |
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| trou·bler noun |
| trou·bling adjective |
| trou·bling·ly adverb |
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in trouble
1. discovered in wrongdoing and liable to be punished
2. pregnant and unmarried (dated informal)used euphemistically
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