trouble

trouble [trub′əl]

vt.

troubled, troubling [ME trublen < OFr trubler < VL * turbulare, altered (infl. by L turbula, disorderly group, dim. of turba, crowd) < LL turbidare, to trouble, make turbid < L turbidus,TURBID]

1. to disturb or agitate [troubled waters]

2. to cause mental agitation to; worry; harass; perturb; vex

3. to cause pain or discomfort to; afflict [my back troubled me]

4. to cause difficulty or inconvenience to; incommode [don't trouble yourself to rise]

5. to pester, annoy, tease, bother, etc.

vi.

to make an effort; take pains; bother [don't trouble to return it]

n.

1. a state of mental distress; worry

2.

a) a misfortune; calamity; mishap

b) a distressing or difficult happening or situation

c) a condition of being out of order, needing repair, etc. [tire trouble]

3. a person, circumstance, or event that causes annoyance, distress, difficulty, etc.

4. public disturbance; civil disorder

5. effort; bother; pains [to take the trouble to look it up]

6. an illness; ailment; disease

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in trouble

Informal pregnant when unmarried

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the Troubles

1. the civil unrest in Ireland, c. 1919-23

2. the civil unrest in Northern Ireland, from about 1967

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trouble someone for

to ask someone to pass, hand, give, etc. (something) to one

troubler

n.