trigger

Word family

trig·ger1 /ˈtrɪɡə $ -ər/ AWL (also trigger off) verb [transitiveT]

1 CAUSEto make something happen very quickly, especially a series of events 引发，激发〔尤指一系列事件〕

The assassination triggered off a wave of rioting.

这次暗杀事件引发了一阵骚乱。

Certain forms of mental illness can be triggered by food allergies.

某些精神疾病可能由食物过敏引发。

trigger a memory (=make you suddenly remember something) 触发回忆

His action triggered a massive response from the government.

他的行动引发了政府的巨大反应。

► see thesaurus at cause

2 to make something such as a bomb or electrical system start to operate 使爆炸；启动，引发 SYN set off

The burglars fled after triggering the alarm.

入室窃贼触动警报器后就逃跑了。

Examples from the Corpus

trigger• He gazed at an ineffable, agonizing radiance which only he could perceive, banishing whatever throwback emotions the brew had triggered.• It is with these shares that one is concerned to ensure that the Schedule E charge can not be triggered.• The incident could trigger a civil war.• Many of these same bacterial culprits are involved in triggering bad breath.• The policy shift was triggered by a sharp increase in violent crimes committed by young offenders during the late 1980s.• Doling out parts of the database to various companies could have triggered chaos on the Internet, Fernandes said.• He would trigger the necessary invitation on his return to Moscow.• Perhaps difficulty in obtaining natron through the traditionally established routes triggered the use of halophytic plants instead.

triggered ... response• Brown eyes scanned the beautiful intensity of her face and triggered a breathless response.• The Powell speech and the dockers' march triggered a response.• The book, Golf in the Kingdom, triggered responses I had not expected.• Could she have triggered some unwanted response in this mysterious man, entirely by accident?

Related topics: Weapons

trigger2 AWL noun [countableC]

1 PMWthe part of a gun that you pull with your finger to fire it 〔枪的〕扳机

pull/squeeze the trigger

He took aim and squeezed the trigger.

他瞄准目标，扣动了扳机。

2 be the trigger (point) (for something) CAUSEto be the thing that quickly causes a serious problem 成为引发（某事）的因素

The hijacking became a trigger point for military action.

这次劫持事件成了引发军事行动的导火线。

Examples from the Corpus

be the trigger (point) (for something)• I had provided the direction in my lecture, and Our discussion was the trigger.• All we had to experience was the trigger and off we went into a state of fear.• Could either or both factors be the trigger?• And the loss of the ally may be the trigger which will start chain fission.• The new stand was the trigger for the layout.• That was the trigger that started the weeping.• Your saying the work is urgent is the trigger, the result is lateness.

Examples from the Corpus

trigger• Research has shown that lack of sleep and other triggers such as stress cause a deficiency of the brain chemical dopamine.• Where education reduces fertility, which is nearly everywhere, the trigger point varies according to cultural influences.• This time when the firing stopped, he stuck the shotgun round the door with his right hand and pulled the trigger.• He snapped off a shot, hardly even bothering to point the gun before he squeezed the trigger.• I pause because telling the dream out loud has tripped the trigger.• The trigger, which gives the fish its name, is the leading ray of its dorsal fin which has become bony.

pull/squeeze the trigger• A young ex-Marine points a gun at his head and pulls the trigger.• He pulled the trigger - and to his horror shot Christopher in the head.• He pulled the trigger and the report was deafening.• He pulled the trigger but the chamber was empty.• Jackson is convinced Ray pulled the trigger.• In the end, it was neither the dream nor the woman he loved that prompted him to pull the trigger.• My brain told me to pull the trigger but my finger wouldn't respond.• Now we need to pull the trigger.• Interim athletic director Paul Bubb was right to pull the trigger and fire Cassidy on Wednesday.

From Longman Business Dictionary