UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtruː/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/tru/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(tro̅o̅)
true/tru/USA pronunciationadj.,tru•er, tru•est,n., adv., v.,trued, tru•ing or true•ing. adj.
being in accordance with reality; agreeing with reality or fact:a true story; Everything they say about you is true.[It + be + ~ + that clause]It is true that the earth is round.
real; genuine; authentic:[before a noun]true gold.
sincere; not deceitful:[before a noun]a true interest in others.
loyal; faithful; steadfast:a true friend.[be + ~ + to]He was true to his principles.
being or reflecting the character of:[before a noun]The true meaning of his statement was actually something very different from what it appeared to be.
exact; precise; accurate; correct:a true copy.
such as it should be; proper:to arrange things in their true order.
properly so called:That was true statesmanship: being able to work with both sides and reach a compromise.
legitimate:the true heir to the throne.
exactly, correctly, or accurately shaped, formed, or placed, as a surface or instrument:This door isn't true; it doesn't hang straight.
proper, exact, or accurate alignment:to be out of true.
adv.
in a true manner; truly; truthfully.
exactly or accurately:The door isn't lined up true.
v.
to adjust, shape, etc., exactly or accurately: [~ (+ up) + object]to true (up) the door.[~ + object (+ up)]to true the door (up).
Idioms
Idiomscome true, (of a wish, etc.) to become a reality:All your dreams will come true when you make this change in your life.
true is an adjective, truth is a noun, truthful is an adjective, truthfully is an adverb:Her statements are all true. Her statements contain a great deal of truth. She is a truthful child. She spoke truthfully.
sincere; not deceitful:a true interest in someone's welfare.
firm in allegiance; loyal; faithful; steadfast:a true friend.
being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something:the true meaning of his statement.
conforming to or consistent with a standard, pattern, or the like:a true copy.
exact; precise; accurate; correct:a true balance.
of the right kind; such as it should be; proper:to arrange things in their true order.
properly so called; rightly answering to a description:true statesmanship.
legitimate or rightful:the true heir.
reliable, unfailing, or sure:a true sign.
exactly or accurately shaped, formed, fitted, or placed, as a surface, instrument, or part of a mechanism.
honest; honorable; upright.
Biologyconforming to the type, norm, or standard of structure of a particular group; typical:The lion is a true cat.
Animal Husbandrypurebred.
Nautical, Naval Terms[Navig.](of a bearing, course, etc.) determined in relation to true north.
[Archaic.]truthful.
n.
exact or accurate formation, position, or adjustment:to be out of true.
the true, something that is true; truth.
adv.
in a true manner; truly; truthfully.
exactly or accurately.
in conformity with the ancestral type:to breed true.
come true, to have the expected or hoped-for result; become a reality:She couldn't believe that her dream would ever come true.
v.t.
to make true; shape, adjust, place, etc., exactly or accurately:to true the wheels of a bicycle after striking a pothole.
Building(esp. in carpentry) to make even, symmetrical, level, etc. (often fol. by up):to true up the sides of a door.
bef. 900; Middle English trewe (adjective, adjectival and adverb, adverbial), Old English trēowe (adjective, adjectival) loyal, trusty, honest (see trow,truce); akin to Dutch trouw, German treu, Old Norse tryggr, Gothic triggws