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¹true

adjective \ˈtrü\

: agreeing with the facts : not false

: real or genuine

: having all the expected or necessary qualities of a specifed type of person or thing

tru·ertru·est

Full Definition of TRUE

a : steadfast, loyal

b : honest, just

c archaic : truthful

a (1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs <true description> (2) : conformable to an essential reality (3) : fully realized or fulfilled <dreams come true>

b : ideal, essential

c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed <the true dimension of the problem>

d : consistent <true to character>

a : properly so called <true love> <the true faith> <the true stomach of ruminant mammals>

b (1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as <a whale is a true but not a typical mammal> (2) : typical <the true cats>

: legitimate, rightful <our true and lawful king>

a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately

b : conformable to a standard or pattern : accurate

: determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles <true north>

: logically necessary

: narrow, strict <in the truest sense>

: corrected for error

— true·ness noun

See true defined for English-language learners

See true defined for kids

Origin of TRUE

Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit dāruṇa hard, dāru wood — more at tree

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TRUE

Synonyms: bona fide, certifiable, certified, dinkum [Australian & New Zealand], echt, genuine, honest, pukka (also pucka), real, right, sure-enough, authentic

Antonyms: bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, mock, phony (also phoney), pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, unreal

Rhymes with TRUE

blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo

²true

adverb

: in a straight line

Full Definition of TRUE

: in accordance with fact or reality

a : without deviation <the bullet flew straight and true>

b : without variation from type <breed true>

See true defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of TRUE

14th century

³true

noun

: the quality or state of being straight, flat, even, etc.

Full Definition of TRUE

: truth, reality —usually used with the

: the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) —used in the phrases in true and out of true

See true defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of TRUE

circa 1536

⁴true

transitive verb

truedtrue·ing also tru·ing

Definition of TRUE

: to make level, square, balanced, or concentric : bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form <true up a board> <true up an engine cylinder>