trot

[ trot ]

/ trɒt /

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See synonyms for: trot / trots / trotted / trotting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), trot·ted, trot·ting.

(of a horse) to go at a gait between a walk and a run, in which the legs move in diagonal pairs, but not quite simultaneously, so that when the movement is slow one foot at least is always on the ground, and when fast all four feet are momentarily off the ground at once.

to go at a quick, steady pace; move briskly; bustle; hurry.

verb (used with object), trot·ted, trot·ting.

to cause to trot.

to ride (a horse) at a trot.

to lead at a trot.

to travel over by trotting: to spend the day trotting the country byways.

to execute by trotting.

noun

the gait of a horse, dog, or other quadruped, when trotting.

the sound made by an animal when trotting.

the jogging gait of a human being, between a walk and a run.

Harness Racing. a race for trotters.

brisk, continuous movement or activity: I've been on the trot all afternoon.

Archaic: Disparaging. an old woman.

Slang. a literal translation used illicitly in doing schoolwork; crib; pony.

the trots, Informal. diarrhea.

Informal. a toddling child.

Verb Phrases

trot out, Informal.

to bring forward for inspection.
to bring to the attention of; introduce; submit: He trots out his old jokes at every party.

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Origin of trot

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb trotten, trot(te), from Middle French trot(t)er, from Germanic; akin to Old High German trottōn “to tread,” Middle High German trotten “to run”; noun derivative of the verb

usage note for trot

The meaning “old woman” is archaic, used with disparaging intent especially in contexts where the woman is regarded as mean, ugly, etc.

OTHER WORDS FROM trot

un·trot·ted, adjective

Other definitions for trot (2 of 2)

trot²

[ trot ]

/ trɒt /

noun

a trotline.

a short line with hooks, attached to the trotline.

Origin of trot

First recorded in 1880–85; short for trotline

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trot in a sentence

Blumenthal, a courtly gentleman of 68 in a perfectly crisp blue shirt, gets laughs by trotting out his rudimentary Spanish.
Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning?|David Freedlander|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Years before picking up a bow, Yasin was a globe-trotting fashion model in his 20s.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The old men of the NFL are trotting out the same tired arguments the codgers in the Pentagon got away with for years.
Michael Sam Is Not a ‘Distraction’|Dave Cullen|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Based on my input, the next stop on my globe-trotting itinerary should be…Vermont!
ChoiceMap: An App to Help You Make Better Decisions|Brian Ries|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Though Crane said he kept both lawyers from “trotting out the issue of race,” it remained “a 900-pound gorilla in the background.”
Bernhard Goetz on George Zimmerman: ‘The Same Thing Is Happening’|Harry Siegel, Filipa Ioannou|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A white horse, drawing a buggy, was trotting along the road by the side of the cornfield.
Seven O'Clock Stories|Robert Gordon Anderson
High overhead a lark was pouring out its song; in the lane at the orchard end rang the beat of trotting hoofs.
Mistress Wilding|Rafael Sabatini
He came trotting up to the suit case which Marie had spread wide open on the bed, stood up on his tippy toes, and peered in.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
After his failure at Castlemaine, Perrott said that the work of ‘trotting the mountains’ was not suited to English soldiers.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
Trotting, prancing, and snorting as they came down the lane, they settled down once they were in the stable lot.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney

British Dictionary definitions for trot (1 of 2)

trot

/ (trɒt) /

verb trots, trotting or trotted

to move or cause to move at a trot

angling to fish (a fast-moving stream or river) by using a float and weighted line that carries the baited hook just above the bottom

noun

a gait of a horse or other quadruped, faster than a walk, in which diagonally opposite legs come down togetherSee also jog trot, rising trot, sitting trot

a steady brisk pace

(in harness racing) a race for horses that have been trained to trot fast

angling

one of the short lines attached to a trotline
the trotline

Australian and NZ informal a run of lucka good trot

mainly British a small child; tot

US slang a student's crib

on the trot informal

one after the otherto read two books on the trot
busy, esp on one's feet

the trots informal

diarrhoea
NZ trotting races

Word Origin for trot

C13: from Old French trot, from troter to trot, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German trotten to run

British Dictionary definitions for trot (2 of 2)

Trot

/ (trɒt) /

noun

informal a follower of Trotsky; Trotskyist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with trot

trot

In addition to the idiom beginning with trot

trot out

also see:

hot to trot

trot

Origin of trot

usage note for trot

OTHER WORDS FROM trot

Other definitions for trot (2 of 2)

Origin of trot

Words related to trot

How to use trot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trot (1 of 2)

Word Origin for trot

British Dictionary definitions for trot (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with trot