tru: adj., adv., & v. --adj. 1 in
accordance with fact or
reality (a true story). 2
genuine;
rightly or
strictly so called;
not spurious or
counterfeit (a true
friend;
the true
heir to the throne). 3 (often foll. by to)
loyal or
faithful (true to one's word). 4 (foll. by to) accurately conforming (to a
standard or
expectation etc.) (true to form). 5 correctly positioned or balanced;
upright,
level. 6
exact,
accurate (a true
aim; a true copy). 7 (absol.) (also it is true)
certainly,
admittedly (true, it
would cost more). 8 (of a note)
exactly in
tune. 9
archaic honest, upright (twelve
good men and true). --adv. 1
truly (tell me true). 2 accurately (aim true). 3
without variation (breed true). --v.tr. (trues, trued, truing or trueing)
bring (a
tool,
wheel,
frame, etc.)
into the exact
position or
form required. øcome true
actually happen or be the case.
out of true (or the true) not in the
correct or exact position. true bill US &
hist. a bill of
indictment endorsed by a
grand jury as
being sustained by
evidence. true-blue adj. extremely loyal or
orthodox. --n.
such a
person,
esp. a
Conservative. true-born genuine (a true-born Englishman). true-bred of a genuine or good
breed. true-hearted faithful, loyal. true
horizon see HORIZON 1c. true-love a
sweetheart. true-love (or -lover's) knot a kind of knot with interlacing bows on
each side, symbolizing true
love. true
north etc. north etc.
according to the earth's axis, not
magnetic north. true
rib a rib joined
directly to the
breastbone. true to form (or type) being or behaving etc. as expected. true to
life accurately representing life. øøtrueish adj. trueness n. [OE treowe, trywe, f. the Gmc
noun repr. by TRUCE]
