trim

/trɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /trɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrim/ (ame, mw)

trim — verb

  • trimpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • trimshe / she / it
  • trimmedpast simple
  • trimming-ing form

1. to cut off small, uneven pieces from hair, nails, plants, or fabric so that the

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to cut off small, uneven pieces from hair, nails, plants, or fabric so that the remaining part looks neat and well-shaped.

例句

Anthony decided to trim his beard before the job interview.

common objects: beard, hair, nails, hedge

The gardener trimmed the hedge outside the window into a straight line.

同義詞
  • clip

    often used for nails or animal fur; quicker and more casual

  • snip

    a smaller, more precise cut, usually with scissors

  • prune

    used for plants and trees, especially removing dead or overgrown branches

反義詞
  • grow

    to let hair, nails, or plants become longer and fuller

文法句型

trim + [object]

trim + off + [excess]

用法筆記

The object is usually something that grows (hair, beard, nails, hedge, grass) or a fabric edge. If you need to remove a larger amount, use 'cut' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I trimmed my hair short.
✅I cut my hair short.
💡'trim' means removing a small amount, not a big change.
❌She trimmed the meat into pieces.
✅She cut the meat into pieces.
💡for food preparation, use 'cut' or 'chop'.

2. to make something smaller in size, number, or cost by removing parts that are no

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make something smaller in size, number, or cost by removing parts that are not necessary.

例句

The company trimmed its budget by cutting travel and office supplies.

collocation: trim + budget / costs / spending / staff

Devika trimmed several pages from her report to keep it short.

同義詞
  • reduce

    more general; not limited to cutting away excess

  • cut

    stronger and more direct; often implies a larger reduction

  • slash

    informal; suggests a very large and sudden reduction

  • pare down

    suggests gradual removal of unnecessary parts

反義詞
  • expand

    to make something larger in size or amount

  • increase

    to make something greater in number or value

文法句型

trim + [amount/number] + from + [total]

trim + [something] + by + [amount]

用法筆記

Often used in business and finance contexts (trim costs, trim the workforce, trim a budget). The focus is on making something leaner, not on physically cutting.

常見錯誤

❌I trimmed my spending by buying a car.
✅I trimmed my spending by cutting unnecessary purchases.
💡'trim' means reduce, not increase.
❌The company trimmed the building.
✅The company trimmed its workforce.
💡'trim' with abstract objects works for size/costs, not physical structures.

3. to add decorative material or objects to the edge of something, such as clothing

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to add decorative material or objects to the edge of something, such as clothing, curtains, or food, to make it look more attractive.

例句

Mauricio trimmed the curtain edges with a thick gold ribbon.

pattern: trim + [object] + with + [decorative material]

The dress was trimmed with small flowers made of silk.

同義詞
  • decorate

    more general; can apply to any kind of adornment, not just edges

  • ornament

    more formal; suggests adding decorative details

  • adorn

    formal; often used for clothing and ceremonial items

文法句型

trim + [object] + with + [decorative material]

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the passive form ('be trimmed with'). The decorative material is introduced by 'with'. This sense is different from sense 1 (cutting) — the focus is on adding, not removing.

常見錯誤

❌She trimmed the cake with fresh cream.
✅She topped the cake with fresh cream.
💡'trim' for food means adding decorative edging, not spreading over the top.
❌The room was trimmed with new furniture.
✅The room was decorated with new furniture.
💡'trim' is about edging/accents, not general decoration.

trim — adjective

trim — noun

trim — adverb

trim — idiom