Definition of "trouble"

trouble

/ˈtɹʌb(ə)l/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural troubles
1. A distressing or dangerous situation.
2. A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.
  Quotations
  Lest the fiend […] some new trouble raise.
  1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
  Foul whisperings are abroad; unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.
  c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i]
3. A person liable to place others or themself in such a situation.
  Quotations
  'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked inSo shame on me no-ow
  2021, Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback (lyrics and music), “I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor's Version)”, in Red (Taylor's Version)‎, performed by Taylor Swift
4. A violent occurrence or event.
  Quotations
  “I don't know how you and the ‘head,’ as you call him, will get on, but I do know that if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there'll be trouble. It's bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that 'cause I'm paid for it. What I won't stand is to have them togs called a livery. […]”
  1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
5. Efforts taken or expended, typically beyond the normal required.
  Quotations
  She never took the trouble to close them.
  1850, William Cullen Bryant, Letters of a Traveller
  Indeed, by the report of our elders, this nervous preparation for old age is only trouble thrown away.
  1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque
6. A malfunction.
7. Liability to punishment; conflict with authority.
8. (mining) A fault or interruption in a stratum.
9. (Cockney rhyming slang) Wife. Clipping of trouble and strife.
10. Children's slang for an adult's annoyance over a personal inadequacy or infraction.
verb
third-person singular simple present troubles, present participle troubling, simple past and past participle troubled
1. (transitive, now rare) To disturb, stir up, agitate (a medium, especially water).
  Quotations
  For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water:
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], John 5:4
  God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt
  1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, line 1100
2. (transitive) To mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.
  Quotations
  Now is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre, but for this cause came I vnto this houre.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], John 12:27
  Take the Boy to you: he ſo troubles me, / 'Tis paſt enduring.
  c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i], page 281, column 2
  Never trouble your ſelf about thoſe Faults in them, which you know Age will cure.
  1693, [John Locke], “§65”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], page 68
3. (transitive) In weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.
4. (reflexive or intransitive) To take pains to do something.
5. (intransitive) To worry; to be anxious.
  Quotations
  Why trouble about the future? It is wholly uncertain.
  1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.26

Definition of "trouble"

trouble

noun

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verb

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