I. trust 1 S1 W2 /trʌst/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ trusting , ↑ trustworthy ≠ ↑ untrustworthy , ↑ trusty , ↑ distrustful , ↑ mistrustful ; noun : ↑ trust ≠ ↑ distrust ≠ ↑ mistrust , ↑ trustee , ↑ trusteeship , ↑ trustworthiness ; verb : ↑ trust ≠ ↑ distrust ≠ ↑ mistrust ]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old Norse ; Origin: traust 'confidence, trust' ]
1 . BELIEF [uncountable] a strong belief in the honesty, goodness etc of someone or something:
At first there was a lack of trust between them.
an agreement made on the basis of mutual trust (=when people trust each other)
put/place your trust in somebody/something
You shouldn’t put your trust in a man like that.
You betrayed your father’s trust (=did something bad even though he trusted you) .
⇨ breach of trust at ↑ breach 1 (3)
2 . ORGANIZATION [countable usually singular] an organization or group that has control over money that will be used to help someone else:
a charitable trust
3 . FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT [uncountable and countable] an arrangement by which someone has legal control of your money or property, either until you are old enough to use it or to ↑ invest it for you:
The money your father left you will be held in trust until you are 21.
⇨ ↑ trust fund , ↑ unit trust
4 . take something on trust to believe that something is true without having any proof:
I just had to take it on trust that he would deliver the money.
5 . position of trust a job or position in which you have been given the responsibility of making important decisions
6 . COMPANIES [countable] especially American English a group of companies that illegally work together to reduce competition and control prices:
anti-trust laws
II. trust 2 S2 W3 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ trusting , ↑ trustworthy ≠ ↑ untrustworthy , ↑ trusty , ↑ distrustful , ↑ mistrustful ; noun : ↑ trust ≠ ↑ distrust ≠ ↑ mistrust , ↑ trustee , ↑ trusteeship , ↑ trustworthiness ; verb : ↑ trust ≠ ↑ distrust ≠ ↑ mistrust ]
1 . PEOPLE to believe that someone is honest or will not do anything bad or wrong OPP distrust , mistrust :
I just don’t trust him.
trust somebody to do something
Can they be trusted to look after the house?
I didn’t trust myself not to say something rude, so I just kept quiet.
trust somebody completely/implicitly
He was a good driver and I trusted him implicitly.
not trust somebody an inch/not trust somebody as far as you can throw them (=not trust someone at all)
2 . FACTS/JUDGEMENT to be sure that something is correct or right SYN believe in , rely on :
Can we trust these statistics?
I trust his judgement completely.
Trust your instincts (=do what you feel is the right thing) !
3 . THINGS to be sure that something will work properly SYN rely on :
Not trusting her voice, she shook her head.
trust something to do something
You can’t trust the trains to run on time.
He sat down suddenly, as if he didn’t trust his legs to support him.
4 . trust you/him/them etc (to do something)! spoken used to say that someone has behaved in a bad or stupid way that is typical of them:
Trust you to write down the wrong number!
5 . I trust (that) spoken formal used to say politely that you hope something is true:
I trust that from now on you will take greater precautions.
⇨ ↑ trusting , ⇨ tried and trusted at ↑ tried 2
trust in something/somebody phrasal verb formal
to believe in someone or something:
We trust in God.
trust to something phrasal verb
to hope that what you want to happen will happen, because there is nothing you can do about it:
I’ll just have to trust to luck that it works out okay.
I hope I may trust to your discretion.
trust somebody with something phrasal verb
to let someone have something or have control over something, believing that they will be careful with it:
I wouldn’t trust him with the keys.
I’d trust her with my life.