- trouble
-
I. verb
(troubled; troubling)
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trubler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulare, from *turbulus agitated, alteration of Latin turbulentus — more at turbulent
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. to agitate mentally or spiritually ; worry, disturb
b.
(1) archaic mistreat, oppress
(2) to produce physical disorder in ; afflict <troubled by a cold> c. to put to exertion or inconvenience <I'm sorry to trouble you> 2. to put into confused motion <the wind troubled the sea> intransitive verb 1. to become mentally agitated ; worry <refused to trouble over trifles> 2. to make an effort ; be at pains <did not trouble to come> • troubler noun II. noun Date: 13th century 1. the quality or state of being troubled especially mentally 2. public unrest or disturbance <there's trouble brewing downtown> 3. an instance of trouble <used to disguise her frustrations and despair by making light of her troubles — Current Biography> 4. a state or condition of distress, annoyance, or difficulty <in trouble with the law> <heading for trouble> <got into financial trouble>: as a. a condition of physical distress or ill health ; ailment <back trouble> <heart trouble> b. a condition of mechanical malfunction <engine trouble> c. a condition of doing something badly or only with great difficulty <has trouble reading> <has trouble breathing> d. pregnancy out of wedlock <got a girl in trouble> 5. an effort made ; pains <took the trouble to do it right> 6. a. a cause of distress, annoyance, or inconvenience <don't mean to be any trouble> <what's the trouble?> b. a negative feature ; drawback <the trouble with you is you're too honest> <the main trouble with electronic systems is the overreliance on them — John Perham> c. the unhappy or sad fact <the trouble is, I need the money>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.