TRIGGER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does trigger mean? 

• TRIGGER (noun)
  The noun TRIGGER has 3 senses:

1. lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

2. a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen

3. an act that sets in motion some course of events

  Familiarity information: TRIGGER used as a noun is uncommon.

• TRIGGER (verb)
  The verb TRIGGER has 2 senses:

1. put in motion or move to act

2. release or pull the trigger on

  Familiarity information: TRIGGER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRIGGER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

gun trigger; trigger

Hypernyms ("trigger" is a kind of...):

lever (a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trigger"):

hair trigger (a gun trigger that responds with little pressure)

Holonyms ("trigger" is a part of...):

gun (a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel))

Derivation:

trigger (release or pull the trigger on)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A device that activates or releases or causes something to happen

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("trigger" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trigger"):

plutonium pit; plutonium trigger (a steel or beryllium sphere containing plutonium 239 that triggers nuclear fission when compressed by explosives)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An act that sets in motion some course of events

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

induction; initiation; trigger

Hypernyms ("trigger" is a kind of...):

causation; causing (the act of causing something to happen)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trigger"):

fomentation; instigation (deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord))

Derivation:

trigger (put in motion or move to act)

• TRIGGER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they trigger    ... he / she / it triggers   
Past simple: triggered   
Past participle: triggered   
-ing form: triggering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put in motion or move to act

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

activate; actuate; set off; spark; spark off; touch off; trigger; trigger off; trip

Context example:

actuate the circuits

Hypernyms (to "trigger" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Cause:

come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

trigger (an act that sets in motion some course of events)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Release or pull the trigger on

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

Trigger a gun

"Trigger" entails doing...:

discharge; fire (cause to go off)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

trigger (lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun)

 Context examples 

Anti-PDGFR alpha monoclonal antibody MEDI-575 inhibits activation of the cell-surface tyrosine kinase PDGFR alpha subunit and subsequent triggering of mitogenic signaling pathways, including the JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt, and MAP kinase pathways.

(Anti-PDGFR Alpha Monoclonal Antibody MEDI-575, NCI Thesaurus)

There’s no doubt that March 20 will be a very fortunate financial day for you and that a friend or acquaintance will be the trigger for your luck.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Anti-PSCA fully human monoclonal antibody MK4721 selectively targets and binds to PSCA, triggering complement-dependent cell lysis and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in tumor cells expressing PSCA.

(Anti-PSCA Monoclonal Antibody AGS-1C4D4, NCI Thesaurus)

Signs and symptoms appear in infancy or childhood and may be triggered during fasting or illness.

(Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Medium-Chain Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

Many things can trigger a migraine.

(Migraine, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Anti-GPC3 monoclonal antibody GC33 binds to GPC3 and triggers a host immune response against GPC3-expressing tumor cells, which may result in tumor cell death.

(Anti-GPC3 Monoclonal Antibody GC33, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon binding to the GD2 antigen, anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody hu14.18K322A triggers a host immune response against GD2-expressing tumor cells, which may result in tumor cell death.

(Anti-GD2 Monoclonal Antibody hu14.18K322A, NCI Thesaurus)

Ocrelizumab binds to CD20 on the surfaces of B-cells, triggering complement-dependent cell lysis (CDCL) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of B-cells overexpressing CD20.

(Ocrelizumab, NCI Thesaurus)

Anti-AGS-8 monoclonal antibody AGS-8M4 selectively binds to AGS-8, triggering complement-dependent cell lysis and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in tumor cells expressing AGS-8.

(Anti-AGS-8 Monoclonal Antibody AGS-8M4, NCI Thesaurus)

Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system.

(Pain, NIH)