trot

1
[ trot ]
See synonyms for: trottrotstrottedtrotting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),trot·ted, trot·ting.
  1. (of a horse) to go at a gait between a walk and a run, in which the legs move in diagonal pairs, but not quite simultaneously, so that when the movement is slow one foot at least is always on the ground, and when fast all four feet are momentarily off the ground at once.

  2. to go at a quick, steady pace; move briskly; bustle; hurry.

verb (used with object),trot·ted, trot·ting.
  1. to cause to trot.

  2. to ride (a horse) at a trot.

  1. to lead at a trot.

  2. to travel over by trotting: to spend the day trotting the country byways.

  3. to execute by trotting.

noun
  1. the gait of a horse, dog, or other quadruped, when trotting.

  2. the sound made by an animal when trotting.

  1. the jogging gait of a human being, between a walk and a run.

  2. Harness Racing. a race for trotters.

  3. brisk, continuous movement or activity: I've been on the trot all afternoon.

  4. Archaic: Disparaging. an old woman.

  5. Slang. a literal translation used illicitly in doing schoolwork; crib; pony.

  6. the trots, Informal. diarrhea.

  7. Informal. a toddling child.

Verb Phrases
  1. trot out, Informal.

    • to bring forward for inspection.

    • to bring to the attention of; introduce; submit: He trots out his old jokes at every party.

Origin of trot

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb trotten, trot(te), from Middle French trot(t)er, from Germanic; akin to Old High German trottōn “to tread,” Middle High German trotten “to run”; noun derivative of the verb

usage note For trot

The meaning “old woman” is archaic, used with disparaging intent especially in contexts where the woman is regarded as mean, ugly, etc.

Other words from trot

  • un·trot·ted, adjective

Words Nearby trot

Other definitions for trot (2 of 2)

trot2
[ trot ]

noun
  1. a short line with hooks, attached to the trotline.

Origin of trot

2
First recorded in 1880–85; short for trotline

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use trot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trot (1 of 2)

trot

/ (trɒt) /


verbtrots, trotting or trotted
  1. to move or cause to move at a trot

  2. angling to fish (a fast-moving stream or river) by using a float and weighted line that carries the baited hook just above the bottom

noun
  1. a gait of a horse or other quadruped, faster than a walk, in which diagonally opposite legs come down together: See also jog trot, rising trot, sitting trot

  2. a steady brisk pace

  1. (in harness racing) a race for horses that have been trained to trot fast

  2. angling

    • one of the short lines attached to a trotline

    • the trotline

  3. Australian and NZ informal a run of luck: a good trot

  4. mainly British a small child; tot

  5. US slang a student's crib

  6. on the trot informal

    • one after the other: to read two books on the trot

    • busy, esp on one's feet

  7. the trots informal

    • diarrhoea

    • NZ trotting races

Origin of trot

1
C13: from Old French trot, from troter to trot, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German trotten to run

British Dictionary definitions for Trot (2 of 2)

Trot

/ (trɒt) /


noun
  1. informal a follower of Trotsky; Trotskyist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with trot

trot

In addition to the idiom beginning with trot

  • trot out

also see:

  • hot to trot

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.