Library / English Dictionary

TRIGGER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act that sets in motion some course of events

Synonyms:

induction; initiation; trigger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun

Synonyms:

gun trigger; trigger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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 3

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Release or pull the trigger on

Example:

Trigger a gun

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

"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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put in motion or move to act

Example:

actuate the circuits

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

CSF1R monoclonal antibody IMC-CS4 binds to CSF1R which may trigger antitumoral antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in tumor cells overexpressing CSF1R.

(Anti-CSF1R Monoclonal Antibody IMC-CS4, NCI Thesaurus)

Ofatumumab binds specifically 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.

(Ofatumumab, NCI Thesaurus)

Signs and symptoms may appear early or later in life and may be triggered by periods of fasting or illnesses.

(Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

Natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 2 (276 aa, ~30 kDa) is encoded by the human NCR2 gene.

(Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2, NCI Thesaurus)

I strove vainly to force my fingers down on the triggers, and vainly I strove to say something.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3 (201 aa, ~22 kDa) is encoded by the human NCR3 gene.

(Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3, NCI Thesaurus)

Inhibition of these apoptosis suppressors prevents their binding to the apoptotic effectors Bax and Bak proteins, thereby triggering apoptotic processes in cells overexpressing Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bcl-w.

(Navitoclax, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 2 protein plays a role in natural killer cell function.

(NCR2 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3 protein, is involved in natural killer cell function.

(NCR3 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Ang II binding to AT1-R triggers the activation of Ca2+ signaling and PKC.

(Angiotensin II Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)