[syn: trimmer, trimmer joist]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Trim \Trim\, a. [Compar. Trimmer; superl. Trimmest.] [See
Trim, v. t.]
Fitly adjusted; being in good order., or made ready for
service or use; firm; compact; snug; neat; fair; as, the ship
is trim, or trim built; everything about the man is trim; a
person is trim when his body is well shaped and firm; his
dress is trim when it fits closely to his body, and appears
tight and snug; a man or a soldier is trim when he stands
erect.
[1913 Webster]
With comely carriage of her countenance trim.
--Spenser.
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So deemed I till I viewed their trim array
Of boats last night. --Trench.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Trimmer \Trim"mer\, n.
1. One who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.
[1913 Webster]
2. One who does not adopt extreme opinions in politics, or
the like; one who fluctuates between parties, so as to
appear to favor each; a timeserver.
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Thus Halifax was a trimmer on principle. --Macaulay.
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3. An instrument with which trimming is done.
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4. (Arch.) A beam, into which are framed the ends of headers
in floor framing, as when a hole is to be left for stairs,
or to avoid bringing joists near chimneys, and the like.
See Illust. of Header.
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5. (Coal Storage) An apparatus used for piling the coal in
gradually increasing piles made by building up at the
point of the cone or top of the prism.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
trimmer
n 1: a worker who thins out and trims trees and shrubs;
"untouched by the pruner's axe" [syn: pruner, trimmer]
2: a machine that trims timber
3: capacitor having variable capacitance; used for making fine
adjustments [syn: trimmer, trimming capacitor]
4: joist that receives the end of a header in floor or roof
framing in order to leave an opening for a staircase or
chimney etc. [syn: trimmer, trimmer joist]