troll

troll 1

 (trōl)

v. trolled, troll·ing, trolls

v.tr.

1.

a. To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.

b. To fish in by trailing a baited line: troll the lake for bass.

c. To trail (a baited line) in fishing.

2.

a. To move around in (an area) or go to (different places) searching for something: "The players cautiously refrain from saying anything candid to the press trolling the clubhouse" (David Grann).

b. To examine or search through: trolling the classifieds for a cheap car.

3. Music

a. To sing in succession the parts of (a round, for example).

b. To sing heartily: troll a carol.

4. To post inflammatory or irrelevant material on (an electronic forum) to provoke responses.

v.intr.

1. To fish by trailing a line, as from a moving boat.

2.

a. To stroll along or wander: "As he was extremely early, he trolled past the community center" (David Bezmozgis).

b. To move around in an area or go to different places searching for something.

c. To examine or search through something: trolling through old family photos looking for a picture of my aunt.

3. Music To sing heartily or gaily.

n.

1.

a. The act of trolling for fish.

b. A lure, such as a spoon or spinner, that is used for trolling.

2. Music A vocal composition in successive parts; a round.

3.

a. A person who posts inflammatory or otherwise unwanted material on an electronic forum, especially anonymously.

b. The material so posted.


[Middle English trollen, to wander about, from Old French troller, of Germanic origin. N., senses 3a and b, influenced by troll.]


troll′er n.


troll 2

(trōl)

n.

1. A supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges.

2. Derogatory A person, especially an older gay man, considered to be unpleasant or ugly.


[Old Norse, perhaps akin to Old Norse

troða

, to step, tread, and dialectal Norwegian

trosa

, to leave or go off tumultuously.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

troll

(trəʊl)

vb

1. (Angling) angling

a. to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat

b. to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling

c. to fish (for) by trolling

2. to roll or cause to roll

3. (Music, other) archaic to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice

4. (intr) informal Brit to walk or stroll

5. (intr) homosexual slang to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise

6. (Computer Science) (intr) computing slang to post deliberately inflammatory articles on an internet discussion board

n

7. the act or an instance of trolling

8. (Angling) angling a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner

9. (Computer Science) computing slang a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles to an internet discussion

[C14: from Old French troller to run about; related to Middle High German trollen to run with short steps]

ˈtroller n


troll

(trəʊl)

n

(European Myth & Legend) (in Scandinavian folklore) one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants

[C19: from Old Norse: demon; related to Danish trold]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

troll1

(troʊl)

v.t.

1. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice.

2. to sing in the manner of a round or catch.

3. to fish in (a body of water) by trailing a line behind a slow-moving boat.

4. to cause to turn round and round; roll.

v.i.

5. to sing.

6. to be uttered or sounded in such tones.

7. to fish by trolling.

8. to roll; turn round and round.

9. to move nimbly, as the tongue in speaking.

n.

10. a song whose parts are sung in succession; a round.

11. the act of trolling.

12. the lure or hook, with or without the attached line, used in trolling.

[1350–1400; Middle English: to roll, stroll; compare Middle French troller to run here and there, Middle High German trollen to walk or run with short steps]

troll′er, n.

troll2

(troʊl)

n.

(in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, usu. hostile to humans, who live underground or in caves.

[1610–20; < Old Norse troll demon]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

troll

- Originally a witch or sorceress.

See also related terms for witch.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

troll


Past participle: trolled
Gerund: trolling
Imperative
troll
troll
Present
I troll
you troll
he/she/it trolls
we troll
you troll
they troll
Preterite
I trolled
you trolled
he/she/it trolled
we trolled
you trolled
they trolled
Present Continuous
I am trolling
you are trolling
he/she/it is trolling
we are trolling
you are trolling
they are trolling
Present Perfect
I have trolled
you have trolled
he/she/it has trolled
we have trolled
you have trolled
they have trolled
Past Continuous
I was trolling
you were trolling
he/she/it was trolling
we were trolling
you were trolling
they were trolling
Past Perfect
I had trolled
you had trolled
he/she/it had trolled
we had trolled
you had trolled
they had trolled
Future
I will troll
you will troll
he/she/it will troll
we will troll
you will troll
they will troll
Future Perfect
I will have trolled
you will have trolled
he/she/it will have trolled
we will have trolled
you will have trolled
they will have trolled
Future Continuous
I will be trolling
you will be trolling
he/she/it will be trolling
we will be trolling
you will be trolling
they will be trolling
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been trolling
you have been trolling
he/she/it has been trolling
we have been trolling
you have been trolling
they have been trolling
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been trolling
you will have been trolling
he/she/it will have been trolling
we will have been trolling
you will have been trolling
they will have been trolling
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been trolling
you had been trolling
he/she/it had been trolling
we had been trolling
you had been trolling
they had been trolling
Conditional
I would troll
you would troll
he/she/it would troll
we would troll
you would troll
they would troll
Past Conditional
I would have trolled
you would have trolled
he/she/it would have trolled
we would have trolled
you would have trolled
they would have trolled

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

troll

A person who posts deliberately inflammatory messages on newsgroups, forums, or blog comment threads with the intention of provoking angry responses.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited