Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - trim

 I. verb  (~med; ~ming)  Etymology: probably from Middle English *~men to prepare, put in order, from Old English trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, from trum strong, firm; probably akin to Old English treo tree, wood — more at tree  Date: circa 1521  transitive verb  1. to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments ~ the Christmas tree the coat was ~med with fur  2.  a. to administer a beating to ; thrash  b. defeat ~med me at chess  3.  a. to make ~ and neat especially by cutting or clipping ~ the hedges  b. to free of excess or extraneous matter by or as if by cutting ~ a budget ~ down the inventory  c. to remove by or as if by cutting ~med thousands from federal payrolls — Grit  4.  a.  (1) to cause (as a ship) to assume a desirable position in the water by arrangement of ballast, cargo, or passengers  (2) to adjust (as an airplane or submarine) for horizontal movement or for motion upward or downward  b. to adjust (as cargo or a sail) to a desired position  5. to adjust (as one's opinions) for reasons of expediency — often used in the phrase ~ one's sails  intransitive verb  1.  a. to maintain neutrality between opposing parties or to favor each equally  b. to change one's views for reasons of expediency  2. to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water a boat that ~s badly  II. adjective  (~mer; ~mest)  Date: circa 1521  1. obsolete excellent, fine  2. ready for service or use; also in good physical condition keeps ~ by jogging  3. exhibiting neatness, good order, or compactness of line or structure ~ houses  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun  III. adverb  Date: 1529 in a ~ manner ; ~ly — used chiefly in combination the ~-cut forest vistas — W. M. Thackeray  IV. noun  Date: circa 1593  1. suitable or excellent condition tries to keep in ~  2.  a. one's clothing or appearance  b. material used for ornament or ~ming  c. the woodwork in the finish of a building especially around openings  d. the interior furnishings of an automobile  3.  a. the position of a ship or boat especially with reference to the horizontal; also the difference between the draft of a ship forward and that aft  b. the relation between the plane of a sail and the direction of the ship  c. the buoyancy status of a submarine  d. the attitude of a lighter-than-air craft relative to a fore-and-aft horizontal plane  e. the attitude with respect to wind axes at which an airplane will continue in level flight with free controls  4. something that is ~med off or cut out  5. a haircut that neatens a previous haircut TRIM  geographical name town E Ireland capital of County Meath population 1781