trot
/trɒt/ (bre, ipa) · /trɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈträt/ (ame, mw)
trot — verb
- trotpresent simple I / you / we / they
- trotshe / she / it
- trottedpast simple
- trotting-ing form
1. to move at a speed between walking and running, with diagonal pairs of legs lift
to move at a speed between walking and running, with diagonal pairs of legs lifting and landing together — used for horses and similar four-legged animals.
The brown horse trotted along the wooden fence beside the old barn.
trot + along + noun phrase (direction)
A small pony trotted across the field early in the morning.
Two large dogs trotted happily behind their owner on the dirt path.
A deer and her fawn trotted through the meadow toward the river.
Felix urged his pony to trot as they approached the farm gate.
- walk
the slowest four-legged gait, with at least two feet always on the ground
文法句型
trot + adverb/preposition (direction)
用法筆記
Frequently used with a direction adverb or prepositional phrase (along, across, through, toward) to indicate where the animal is moving.
常見錯誤
2. to sit on a horse and guide it at a trot, or to cause a horse to move at this pa
to sit on a horse and guide it at a trot, or to cause a horse to move at this pace.
Yael trotted her horse along the lane for about twenty minutes.
transitive: trot + horse + adverb (direction)
Sophia learned to trot on a gentle old pony at the riding school.
intransitive: trot (on a horse), no object
Aarav trotted the pony around the ring twice before stopping.
The instructor trotted the young horse down the hill toward the stables.
文法句型
trot (on a horse)
trot a horse + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
When transitive, the object is the animal being ridden or driven — never a person or vehicle.
常見錯誤
3. to move quickly with short, hurried steps, especially because you are busy or ne
to move quickly with short, hurried steps, especially because you are busy or need to get somewhere.
Jisoo trotted down the stairs when she heard the doorbell ring.
trot + down + noun (direction)
Andrés trotted along the platform trying to catch the departing train.
The shop assistant trotted back and forth between the shelves and the counter.
Camille trotted after the toddler as he ran toward the playground.
- stroll
to walk slowly and leisurely, without hurry
文法句型
trot + adverb/preposition (direction)
用法筆記
Describes a purposeful, hurried movement on foot — faster than walking but not a full run. The direction is almost always specified with an adverb or prepositional phrase.
常見錯誤
4. to do or say something too quickly, without taking enough care or attention.
to do or say something too quickly, without taking enough care or attention.
Sophia trotted through her presentation and forgot several key points.
pattern: trot through + task (informal)
Zola realized she had trotted through the instructions and missed an important warning.
The lawyer trotted through the witness's testimony without asking the right questions.
Nellie trotted through her homework in just ten minutes and made many mistakes.
- rush through
more common and less informal than 'trot through'
- race through
implies even greater speed and less care
- skim
means to read or deal with something quickly without full attention
- go over carefully
to examine or do something with full attention and time
文法句型
trot through + noun (a task, a speech, etc.)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'through' followed by the thing being rushed. Common in informal British English. Distinguish from sense 3 (HURRY), which is about physical movement — this sense is about lack of care when performing a task.
常見錯誤
trot — noun
1. the gait and pace of a four-legged animal, especially a horse, moving at a moder
the gait and pace of a four-legged animal, especially a horse, moving at a moderate speed between a walk and a run, with diagonal leg pairs working together.
The rider slowed the horse from a canter to a gentle trot.
collocation: slow from [gait] to a trot
The pony broke into a trot as it started climbing the small hill.
collocation: break into a trot
The horses moved at a steady trot for most of the journey home.
Felix could hear the trot of hooves on the gravel road from inside the cabin.
文法句型
at a trot
break into a trot
slow to a trot
用法筆記
Usually singular. Used with prepositions like 'at' for speed description and 'into' for transitioning from another gait.
2. a pace at which a person moves on foot more quickly than a walk but not as fast
a pace at which a person moves on foot more quickly than a walk but not as fast as a full run, often to keep up with someone or something.
Yara broke into a trot to catch up with her friends on the trail.
collocation: break into a trot (human)
The children set off at a trot toward the ice cream truck down the street.
Andrés kept a steady trot for the last mile of the race.
Minh's usual morning exercise is a light trot around the neighbourhood block.
文法句型
at a trot
break into a trot
用法筆記
Often used with 'break into' to describe starting to trot from a walk. Less formal than 'jog' and usually implies a shorter duration or a specific purpose.
常見錯誤
3. an illness in which solid waste from the body is passed too often and in a liqui
an illness in which solid waste from the body is passed too often and in a liquid state.
The cat had the trots after eating scraps from the kitchen bin.
pattern: have the trots (informal, British)
A bout of the trots kept Andrés at home for two days last week.
The vet said the dog's trots were caused by a sudden change in diet.
The whole team got the trots after eating at that roadside restaurant.
文法句型
the trots
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form 'the trots' in British English. Highly informal — avoid in formal or medical writing. Use 'diarrhoea' for neutral or formal contexts.