[+ object]

1 a : to cut something off something else : to remove something by cutting — often + away, from, or off

• She trimmed away the dead branches.
• She trimmed the fat from/off the meat.

1 b : to make something neat by cutting it

• He trimmed his mustache.
• The hedges need to be trimmed.

2 : to make the size, amount, or extent of something smaller

• They are looking for ways to trim the budget.

3 : to decorate something especially around the edges with ribbons, ornaments, etc.

• We trimmed the Christmas tree.
• a pillow trimmed in/with lace

4 : to adjust a boat’s sails in order to move faster

• The sailors trimmed the sails.

— trimmer /ˈtrɪmɚ/ noun, plural trimmers [count]

• a mustache trimmer