Trop|ic of Cap|ri|corn /trɒ p I k əv kæ pr I kɔː r n/ N‑PROPER The Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line around the Earth 23° 26′ south of the equator.
trop|ics /trɒ p I ks/ N‑PLURAL The tropics are the parts of the world that lie between two lines of latitude, the Tropic of Cancer, 23½° north of the equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn, 23½° south of the equator.
trot /trɒ t/ (trots , trotting , trotted )
1 VERB If you trot somewhere, you move fairly fast at a speed between walking and running, taking small quick steps. □ [V prep/adv] I trotted down the steps and out to the shed. □ [V ] A small shabby man was trotting beside Bardi trying to get his attention. ● N‑SING Trot is also a noun. □ He walked briskly, but without breaking into a trot.
2 VERB When an animal such as a horse trots , it moves fairly fast, taking quick small steps. You can also say that the rider of the animal is trotting . □ [V ] Alan took the reins and the small horse started trotting. □ [V prep/adv] Pete got on his horse and started trotting across the field. ● N‑SING Trot is also a noun. □ As they started up again, the horse broke into a brisk trot.
3 PHRASE If something happens several times on the trot , it happens that number of times without a break. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ She lost five games on the trot.
▸ trot out PHRASAL VERB If you say that a person trots out old ideas or information, you are criticizing him or her for repeating them in a way that is not new or interesting. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P n] Was it really necessary to trot out the same old stereotypes about Ireland? [Also V n P ]
Trot|sky|ist /trɒ tski I st/ (Trotskyists ) N‑COUNT A Trotskyist is someone who supports the revolutionary left-wing ideas of Leon Trotsky.
trot|ter /trɒ tə r / (trotters ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Trotters are a pig's feet which you can cook and eat. [BRIT ]
trou|ba|dour /truː bədɔː r / (troubadours )
1 N‑COUNT Troubadours were poets and singers who used to travel around and perform to noble families in Italy and France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
2 N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to popular singers as troubadours , especially when the words of their songs are an important part of their music.
trou|ble ◆◆◇ /trʌ b ə l/ (troubles , troubling , troubled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] You can refer to problems or difficulties as trouble . □ I had trouble parking. □ You've caused us a lot of trouble. □ The plane developed engine trouble soon after taking off. □ The crew are in serious trouble in 50-knot winds and huge seas. □ The Sullivans continued to have financial troubles.
2 N‑SING If you say that one aspect of a situation is the trouble , you mean that it is the aspect which is causing problems or making the situation unsatisfactory. □ The trouble is that these restrictions have remained while other things have changed. □ Your trouble is that you can't take rejection.
3 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your troubles are the things that you are worried about. □ She kept her troubles to herself.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [n N ] If you have kidney trouble or back trouble , for example, there is something wrong with your kidneys or your back. □ Simon had never before had any heart trouble. □ [+ with ] He began to have trouble with his right knee.
5 N‑UNCOUNT If there is trouble somewhere, especially in a public place, there is fighting or rioting there. □ Riot police are being deployed throughout the city to prevent any trouble. □ Police sources admitted that the potential for trouble on the streets remained high.
6 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] If you tell someone that it is no trouble to do something for them, you are saying politely that you can or will do it, because it is easy or convenient for you. [POLITENESS ] □ It's no trouble at all; on the contrary, it will be a great pleasure to help you.
7 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that a person or animal is no trouble , you mean that they are very easy to look after. □ My little grandson is no trouble at all, but his 6-year-old elder sister is rude and selfish.
8 VERB If something troubles you, it makes you feel rather worried. □ [V n] Is anything troubling you? □ [be V -ed] He was troubled by the lifestyle of his son. ● trou|bling ADJ □ But most troubling of all was the simple fact that nobody knew what was going on.
9 VERB If a part of your body troubles you, it causes you physical pain or discomfort. □ [V n] The ulcer had been troubling her for several years.
10 VERB If you say that someone does not trouble to do something, you are critical of them because they do not behave in the way that they should do, and you think that this would require very little effort. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V to-inf] He yawns, not troubling to cover his mouth. □ [V pron-refl to-inf] He hadn't troubled himself to check his mirrors.
11 VERB You use trouble in expressions such as I'm sorry to trouble you when you are apologizing to someone for disturbing them in order to ask them something. [FORMULAE ] □ [V n] I'm sorry to trouble you, but I wondered if by any chance you know where he is.
12 PHRASE If someone is in trouble , they are in a situation in which a person in authority is angry with them or is likely to punish them because they have done something wrong. □ [+ with ] He was in trouble with his teachers.
13 PHRASE If you take the trouble to do something, you do something which requires a small amount of additional effort. □ He did not take the trouble to see the film before he attacked it.