trimming
Americannoun
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anything used or serving to decorate or complete.
the trimmings of a Christmas tree.
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Usually trimmings an accompaniment or garnish to a main dish.
roast turkey with all the trimmings.
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trimmings, pieces cut off in trimming, clipping, paring, or pruning.
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the act of a person or thing that trims.
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Informal. a beating or thrashing.
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Informal. a defeat.
Our team took quite a trimming.
noun
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an extra piece used to decorate or complete
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(plural) usual or traditional accompaniments
roast turkey with all the trimmings
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(plural) parts that are cut off
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dialect (plural) ornaments; decorations
Christmas trimmings
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informal a reproof, beating, or defeat
Etymology
Origin of trimming
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.
On Thursday, the European Central Bank again lowered its growth forecast for this year to 0.8%, while also trimming its expectations for 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
The discipline is in trimming exposure while everyone else is still celebrating.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
While the logistics of it can be "last-minute", he says, there are some players he knows he will be trimming, including Chelsea captain Reece James.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
If possible, residents should hold off on tree trimming or vegetation clearing during nesting season.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
“I was washing dishes and my hands are still wet, and your father, he’s out back trimming the apple tree.”
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
