trigger

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
  2. noun a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen
  3. noun an act that sets in motion some course of events

Etymology

Originally tricker, from Dutch trekker (“pull”, noun, as in drawer-pull, bell-pull), from Dutch trekken (“to drag, draw, pull”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

gun trigger

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