trigger mechanism

American

noun

a physiological or psychological process caused by a stimulus and resulting in a usually severe reaction.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Justice Alito appeared supportive of Mr. Mitchell’s argument that the ban overreached because the device itself does not physically touch and move the trigger mechanism in a rifle.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2024

In the filing, Morrissey said they were awaiting results of an additional analysis of the gun and its broken sear, a part of the trigger mechanism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2023

“There was no trigger mechanism, the guy was obviously a nut. Bombs have triggering mechanisms, hoaxes have pipes without triggering mechanisms.”

From The New Yorker • Nov. 6, 2018

It’s a trigger mechanism: as soon as he says it, the chants begin.

From The Guardian • Nov. 1, 2018

A later innovation in the modern breech-loader is the single trigger mechanism introduced by some of the leading English gun-makers, by which both barrels can be fired in succession by a single trigger.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023