trouble

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A distressing or dangerous situation.

   • He was in trouble when the rain started.
2. 2

   A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.

   • The trouble was a leaking brake line.
   • The bridge column magnified the trouble with a slight tilt in the wrong direction.
   • Lest the fiend […] some new trouble raise.
3. 3

   A person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.

   • ’Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in So shame on me no-ow
4. ›+ 17 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      The state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally

      The state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally; unease, disquiet.

      • Yet oft when sundown skirts the moor ⁠An inner trouble I behold, ⁠A spectral doubt which makes me cold, That I shall be thy mate no more, […]
   2. 5

      Objectionable feature of something or someone

      Objectionable feature of something or someone; problem, drawback, weakness, failing, or shortcoming.

      • Your trouble is that you quit too readily.
      • The trouble with that suggestion is that we lack the funds to put it in motion.
   3. 6

      Violent or turbulent occurrence or event

      Violent or turbulent occurrence or event; unrest, disturbance.

      • the troubles in Northern Ireland
   4. 7

      Efforts taken or expended, typically beyond the normal required.

      • It’s no trouble for me to edit it.
      • She never took the trouble to close them.
      • Indeed, by the report of our elders, this nervous preparation for old age is only trouble thrown away.
   5. 8

      Difficulty in doing something.

      • She has trouble eating.
   6. 9

      Health problems, ailment, generally of some particular part of the body.

      • He’s been in hospital with some heart trouble.
   7. 10

      A malfunction.

      • My old car has engine trouble.
   8. 11

      Liability to punishment

      Liability to punishment; conflict with authority.

      • He had some trouble with the law.
   9. 12

      A fault or interruption in a stratum.

   10. 13

       Wife. Clipping of trouble and strife.

   11. 14

       An unplanned, unwanted or undesired pregnancy.

       • I never had schoolin’ but he taught me well / With his smooth southern style / Three months later I’m a gal in trouble / And I haven’t seen him for a while.
   12. 15

       To disturb, stir up, agitate (a medium, especially water).

       • For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water:
       • God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt
   13. 16

       To mentally distress

       To mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.

       • What she said about narcissism is troubling me.
       • Now is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre, but for this cause came I vnto this houre.
       • Take the Boy to you: he ſo troubles me, / ’Tis paſt enduring.
   14. 17

       In weaker sense

       In weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.

       • I will not trouble you to deliver the letter.
   15. 18

       To physically afflict.

       • My bad knee is troubling me.
   16. 19

       To take pains (to do something)

       To take pains (to do something); to bother.

       • I won’t trouble to post the letter today; I can do it tomorrow.
       • « The hut’s not very tidy, if you don’t mind, » he said. « I cleared it what I could. » / « But I didn’t want you to trouble! » she said.
   17. 20

       To worry

       To worry; to be anxious.

       • Why trouble about the future? It is wholly uncertain.

The neighborhood

• neighborturbid
• neighborturbulent