trimmer
C1Neutral, with technical register for tools/electronics and informal/negative for opportunistic person.
Definition
Meaning
A person or machine that cuts, shapes, or tidies something by removing small or excess parts.
1) (Noun) An adjustable electrical device for controlling brightness. 2) (Adjective) Comparative form meaning more neat, orderly, or thrifty. 3) (Noun, informal) Someone who frequently changes opinions for advantage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, the primary sense refers to a tool or device (hedge trimmer, beard trimmer). The secondary sense (opinion-changer) is informal and often pejorative. As an adjective, 'trimmer' is the comparative form of 'trim'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Hedge trimmer' and 'weed trimmer' are common in both. 'String trimmer' (AmE) is more common than 'strimmer' (BrE informal) for the garden tool. The political 'trimmer' is used in both.
Connotations
Identical. The tool sense is neutral; the person sense is negative, implying unprincipled adaptability.
Frequency
Tool sense is moderately frequent in both. The informal 'political trimmer' is low-frequency and somewhat dated.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + a/the + trimmer (e.g., use, operate, buy, charge)[Adjective] + trimmer (e.g., electric, cordless, new)trimmer + [Preposition] + [Noun] (e.g., trimmer for hedges, trimmer of opinions)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No primary idioms. 'Trim one's sails' is related to the verb 'trim', from which 'trimmer' (opportunist) is derived.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in retail (sales of garden/personal care tools).
Academic
Very rare, except in historical/political texts describing 'trimmers' (e.g., 17th-century British politics).
Everyday
Common for gardening (hedge/grass trimmer) and grooming (beard/body trimmer).
Technical
Specific in electronics (capacitor trimmer for tuning circuits) and horticulture (tool specifications).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- After his diet, he looked trimmer than last year.
- The new model is a trimmer design, saving on materials.
American English
- She kept her finances trimmer than her colleagues.
- We need a trimmer budget proposal for the committee.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a trimmer for my beard.
- He bought a new hedge trimmer.
- The cordless grass trimmer is very easy to use.
- She looks trimmer since she started exercising.
- This capacitor has a small trimmer for fine-tuning the frequency.
- Historians often describe him as a political trimmer, shifting allegiances for power.
- The designer opted for a trimmer silhouette, eschewing the voluminous trends of the previous season.
- His reputation as a trimmer in fiscal policy eroded trust among the party's core supporters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TRIMMING hair or a hedge. A TRIMMER is the tool or person that does the TRIMMING.
Conceptual Metaphor
REFINEMENT IS TRIMMING (removing excess to improve shape/function). OPPORTUNISM IS SAIL-TRIMMING (adjusting to prevailing winds for advantage).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'триммер' (borrowed, correct for tool). Do not translate adjective 'trimmer' (more trim) as 'обрезчик' (cutter). The person sense (opportunist) is not 'парикмахер' (barber).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'trimmer' as a base adjective (*'He is very trimmer'). It's comparative only. Confusing 'trimmer' (tool) with 'cutter' (broader). Overusing the political 'trimmer' in modern contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'trimmer' used in a primarily technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the context of tools for gardening and personal grooming. Other meanings (electronics, politics) are more specialised or dated.
No. 'Trim' is the verb. 'Trimmer' is primarily a noun (a tool/person) or a comparative adjective (more trim).
A trimmer typically cuts shorter lengths, defines edges, or shapes (e.g., beard trimmer). A clipper often cuts larger volumes or longer growth (e.g., hair clippers, hedge clippers).
Yes, in British English. It's an informal brand-name-derived term (from 'String Trimmer') for what Americans typically call a 'string trimmer' or 'weed whacker'.
Explore