Search results for 'trouble':

trouble noun 1 a distress, worry or concern; b a cause of this. 2 bother or effort, or a cause of this • go to a lot of trouble • The dog was no trouble. 3 a problem or difficulty • Your trouble is that you're too generous. 4 a (usually troubles) public disturbances and unrest; b (the Troubles) a term used to describe the periods of civil war and unrest from 1919 to 23 and since 1969 in N Ireland. 5 a illness or weakness • heart trouble; b malfunction; failure • engine trouble. verb (troubled, troubling) 1 to cause distress, worry, concern, anger, sadness, etc to • What's troubling you? 2 to cause physical distress or discomfort to • His weak knee always troubled him. 3 used especially in polite requests: to put someone to the inconvenience of (doing, saying, etc something) • Could I trouble you to open the window a little? 4 intrans to make any effort or take pains • He didn't even trouble to tell me what had happened. 5 to disturb or agitate (eg the surface of water). be asking for trouble colloq to behave in a way likely to bring problems or difficulties. in trouble in difficulties, especially because of doing something wrong or illegal. look for trouble to actively and aggressively seek out an argument or fight. take trouble or take the trouble to make an effort (to do something, especially to do it well).
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French trubler, from Latin turbidus full of confusion, disturbed.