trust

 
Pronunciation: /trʌst/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something: relations have to be built on trust they have been able to win the trust of the others
  • acceptance of the truth of a statement without evidence or investigation: I used only primary sources, taking nothing on trust
  • the state of being responsible for someone or something: a man in a position of trust
  • [count noun] literary a person or duty for which one has responsibility: rulership is a trust from God
  • 2 [count noun] Law an arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) holds property as its nominal owner for the good of one or more beneficiaries: a trust was set up [mass noun]: the property is to be held in trust for his son
  • a body of trustees.
  • an organization or company managed by trustees: a charitable trust [in names]: the National Trust
  • 3 [count noun] US dated a large company that has or attempts to gain monopolistic control of a market.
  • 4West Indian or archaic commercial credit: my master lived on trust at an alehouse
  • 5 [count noun] archaic a hope or expectation: all the great trusts of womanhood

verb

[with object]
  • 1believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of: I should never have trusted her [with object and infinitive]: he can be trusted to carry out an impartial investigation (as adjective trusted) a trusted adviser
  • (trust someone with) allow someone to have, use, or look after (someone or something of importance or value) with confidence: I’d trust you with my life
  • (trust someone/thing to) commit someone or something to the safekeeping of: they don’t like to trust their money to anyone outside the family
  • [with clause] have confidence; hope (used as a polite formula in conversation): I trust that you have enjoyed this book
  • [no object] have faith or confidence: she trusted in the powers of justice
  • [no object] (trust to) place reliance on (luck, fate, or chance): I hurtled down the path, trusting to luck that I wouldn’t put a foot wrong
  • 2 archaic allow credit to (a customer): all persons are forbid to trust my wife, Sarah

Phrases

not trust someone as far as one can throw them

informal not trust or hardly trust a particular person at all.

trust someone to ——

it is characteristic or predictable for someone to act in the specified way: trust Sam to have all the inside information

Derivatives

trustable

adjective

truster

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old Norse traust, from traustr 'strong'; the verb from Old Norse treysta, assimilated to the noun