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   trig·ger

   /ˈtriɡər/

   noun

   • 1. a small device that releases a spring or catch and so sets off a mechanism, especially in order to fire a gun: "he pulled the trigger of the shotgun"
   • ▪ an event or circumstance that is the cause of a particular action, process, or situation: "the trigger for the strike was the closure of a mine"

   verb

   • 1. cause (an event or situation) to happen or exist: "an allergy can be triggered by stress or overwork" Similar precipitateprompttrigger offset offspark (off)touch offstimulateprovokestir upfan the flames ofcausegive rise tolead toset in motionoccasionbe the cause ofbring aboutgenerateengenderbeginstartinitiateliterary:enkindle
   • ▪ cause (a device) to function. Similar activateset offset goingtrip
   • ▪ (of an event or situation) cause (someone) to do something: "the death of Helen's father triggered her to follow a childhood dream and become a falconer"
   • ▪ (especially of something read, seen, or heard) distress (someone), typically as a result of arousing feelings or memories associated with a particular traumatic experience: "she started crying and told me that my news had really triggered her"

   Word Origin early 17th century: from dialect tricker, from Dutch trekker, from trekken ‘to pull’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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