trouble

noun

1. 1

   A distressing or dangerous situation.

   He was in trouble when the rain started.

2. 2

   A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.

   The trouble was a leaking brake line.

   The bridge column magnified the trouble with a slight tilt in the wrong direction.

   Lest the fiend […] some new trouble raise.

   Foul whisperings are abroad; unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.

3. 3

   A person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.

   Get me on the court and I'm trouble Last week, messed around and got a triple double

   ’Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in So shame on me no-ow

4. 4

   The state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally; unease, disquiet.

   Yet oft when sundown skirts the moor ⁠An inner trouble I behold, ⁠A spectral doubt which makes me cold, That I shall be thy mate no more, […]

5. 5

   Objectionable feature of something or someone; problem, drawback, weakness, failing, or shortcoming.

   Your trouble is that you quit too readily.

   The trouble with that suggestion is that we lack the funds to put it in motion.

6. 6

   Violent or turbulent occurrence or event; unrest, disturbance.

   the troubles in Northern Ireland

   “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. […]”

7. 7

   Efforts taken or expended, typically beyond the normal required.

   It’s no trouble for me to edit it.

   She never took the trouble to close them.

   Indeed, by the report of our elders, this nervous preparation for old age is only trouble thrown away.

8. 8

   Difficulty in doing something.

   She has trouble eating.

9. 9

   Health problems, ailment, generally of some particular part of the body.

   He’s been in hospital with some heart trouble.

10. 10

    A malfunction.

    My old car has engine trouble.

11. 11

    Liability to punishment; conflict with authority.

    He had some trouble with the law.

12. 12

    A fault or interruption in a stratum.

13. 13

    slangWife. Clipping of trouble and strife.

14. 14

    datedAn unplanned, unwanted or undesired pregnancy.

    I never had schoolin’ but he taught me well / With his smooth southern style / Three months later I’m a gal in trouble / And I haven’t seen him for a while.

verb

1. 1

   archaicTo disturb, stir up, agitate (a medium, especially water).

   For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water:

   God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt

2. 2

   To mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.

   What she said about narcissism is troubling me.

   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.

   Take the Boy to you: he ſo troubles me, / ’Tis paſt enduring.

   Never trouble your ſelf about thoſe Faults in them, which you know Age will cure.

3. 3

   In weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.

   I will not trouble you to deliver the letter.

4. 4

   To physically afflict.

   My bad knee is troubling me.

5. 5

   To take pains (to do something); to bother.

   I won’t trouble to post the letter today; I can do it tomorrow.

   « The hut’s not very tidy, if you don’t mind, » he said. « I cleared it what I could. » / « But I didn’t want you to trouble! » she said.

6. 6

   To worry; to be anxious.

   Why trouble about the future? It is wholly uncertain.

Forms

plural

troubles

past tense

troubled

past participle

troubled

present participle

troubling

third person singular

troubles