trigger

Trigger is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈtɹɪgə/

Noun

Singular trigger

Plural triggers

1. A trigger is the part of a gun that you push with one finger when you want to make the gun shoot.

   I didn't want to make him angry, because he had his finger on the trigger.

2. A trigger is a little thing that makes something bigger happen.

   Bad smells are one of the triggers for my headaches.

Synonyms

• switch
• cause
• reason

Verb

Plain form trigger

Third-person singular triggers

Past tense triggered

Past participle triggered

Present participle triggering

1. A little thing triggers a big thing to happen when it causes it.

   Those angry words triggered the beginning of the war.

Synonyms

• switch
• cause
• reason