trouble

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtrʌb(ə)l/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1difficulty or problems: I had trouble finding somewhere to park friends should support each other when they are in trouble the government’s policies ran into trouble [count noun]: our troubles are just beginning
  • the malfunction of something such as a machine or a part of the body: their helicopter developed engine trouble
  • effort or exertion made to do something, especially when inconvenient: I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble he’s gone to a lot of trouble to help you
  • a cause of worry or inconvenience: the kid had been no trouble up to now
  • a particular aspect of something regarded as unsatisfactory or as a source of difficulty: that’s the trouble with capitalism
  • a situation in which one is liable to incur punishment or blame: he’s been in trouble with the police
  • informal, dated used to refer to the condition of a pregnant unmarried woman: she’s not the first girl who’s got herself into trouble
  • 2public unrest or disorder: there was crowd trouble before and during the match
  • (the Troubles) any of various periods of civil war or unrest in Ireland, especially in 1919–23 and (in Northern Ireland) since 1968.

verb

[with object]
  • cause distress or anxiety to: he was not troubled by doubts
  • [no object] (trouble about/over/with) be distressed or anxious about: she was too concerned with her own feelings to trouble about Clare’s
  • cause (someone) pain: my legs started to trouble me
  • cause (someone) inconvenience (typically used as a polite way of asking someone to do something): sorry to trouble you could I trouble you for a receipt?
  • [no object, with infinitive] make the effort required to do something: oh, don’t trouble to answer

Phrases

ask for trouble

informal act in a way that is likely to incur problems or difficulties: hitching a lift is asking for trouble

look for trouble

informal behave in a way that is likely to provoke an argument or fight: youths take a cocktail of drink and drugs before going out to look for trouble

trouble and strife

British rhyming slang wife.

a trouble shared is a trouble halved

proverb talking to someone else about one’s problems helps to alleviate them.

Derivatives

troubler

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French truble (noun), trubler (verb), based on Latin turbidus (see turbid)