trigger

[[t]trɪ̱gə(r)[/t]]

♦♦♦

triggers, triggering, triggered

1) N-COUNT The trigger of a gun is a small lever which you pull to fire it.

A man pointed a gun at them and pulled the trigger.

2) N-COUNT: oft N n The trigger of a bomb is the device which causes it to explode.

...trigger devices for nuclear weapons.

3) VERB To trigger a bomb or system means to cause it to work.

[V n] The thieves must have deliberately triggered the alarm and hidden inside the house...

[V n] The one thousand pound bomb was triggered by a wire.

[V-ing] ...nuclear triggering devices.

Syn:

set off, activate

4) VERB If something triggers an event or situation, it causes it to begin to happen or exist.

[V n] ...the incident which triggered the outbreak of the First World War...

[V n] The current recession was triggered by a slump in consumer spending...

[V-ing] Even a problem as simple as a bad back often has an underlying triggering factor.

PHRASAL VERB

Trigger off means the same as trigger.

Also V n P V P n (not pron) It is still not clear what events triggered off the demonstrations.

5) N-COUNT: oft N for n If something acts as a trigger for another thing such as an illness, event, or situation, the first thing causes the second thing to begin to happen or exist.

Stress may act as a trigger for these illnesses.