Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged
Visual

ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Word Central
Spell It!

trigger

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

triggers

Main Entry:: ¹trig·ger
Pronunciation:: \ˈtri-gər\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: alteration of earlier tricker, from Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker one that pulls, from trecken to pull — more at trek
Date:: 1621

1 a: a piece (as a lever) connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it ; especially : the part of the action moved by the finger to fire a gun b: a similar movable part by which a mechanism is actuated <trigger of a spray gun>2: something that acts like a mechanical trigger in initiating a process or reaction

— trigger adjective

— trig·gered

Listen to the pronunciation of triggered

\-gərd\ adjective

Learn more about "trigger" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "trigger" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols