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to true

to true

1 8.4
To make something exactly straight or level
  • verb
  • /tru/
  • Specialized
translation icon : centrar
  • He carefully used a tool to true the edges of the door so it would close properly.
  • true the wheel
  • true the edge

Examples

  • When I need to press some freshly washed fabric, I can even true up the grainlines by following the grid.

    Blog text (5)
  • You want to true true your shoulder seam so that they line up exactly.

  • All right, so now I'm going to true up these wheels and truing is a dark art.

  • So I'm just going to go in here and true the waist line up that those seams right there.

  • My parting tool has a bad tendency to drift to the left as I part off stock, so I needed a way to true up the wheels to be entirely flat on each side.

    Blog text (13)
  • To ensure the best performance, it's essential to true the wheel before each ride.

  • After adjusting the spokes, you need to true the wheel by checking for any wobbles.

Synonyms

to straighten
vsto true
114 2.5

Make something straight and in the right position

focuses on exact balance and concentric adjustment, not posture or clothing
to align
vsto true
89 3.5

To put things in a straight line or in the correct position

prefers exact balance and concentric position rather than only lining things up
to square
vsto true
28 3.4

Make something straight or at a right angle

aims for exact balance or concentric adjustment rather than only right angles
to even
vsto true
22 2.5

To make something level or smooth

seeks precise concentric balance rather than just flatness or equal height
to flush
vsto true
3 6.1

To make one surface level with another

targets exact balance and concentric positioning, not only making surfaces even
to true up
vsto true
  • Specialized
8.4

To make something exactly straight and level, for example a wheel rim

is used more generally beyond technical or mechanical contexts

Antonyms

4 6.7

To put parts in the wrong position so they do not line up

To make something messy or not in the right order

Idioms

true that
  • Informal
126 8.1

To say you agree with someone

47 5.9

So good that you find it hard to believe

A thing you wanted for a long time that finally happens

31 3.2

Faithful and loyal to your partner by not having sex with other people

tried and true
  • Informal
15 3.4

Known to work well because people used it before

so true
  • Informal
13 6.8

To show you strongly agree with what someone said

true to form
  • Informal
9 4.1

Happening or acting in the usual way as before

9 6.3

To let people see who you really are, often under pressure

3 4.1

Very similar to real life in looks and detail

big if true
  • Texting
9.2

Something that would be very important if it is true

9.2

To show that something is really true and not a joke

out of true
  • Specialized
8.0

Uneven so parts do not fit or move smoothly

Phrasal Verbs

362 1.0

To happen in real life, especially a wish or dream

to ring true
  • Informal
24 4.2

To seem real and believable

To be proved correct after checking

to true up
  • Specialized
8.4

To make something exactly straight and level, for example a wheel rim

Compounds

75 2.7

An account of events that really happened

20 4.9

A person's real self, not the face they show others

true colors
  • Informal
17 4.9

The real character a person shows when under pressure

7 6.8

Very loyal and always supporting a person, group, or cause

The real reasons someone has for their actions, often hidden

All the ability a person or thing can reach

A person who sees what the future could be and creates new ideas

true bill
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A paper saying a group of citizens found enough evidence to charge someone with a crime

A situation where everyone has the same rights and fair treatment

true north
  • Canadian
1 8.6

Canada that people call a symbol of its values and identity

1 2.8

Asking for an answer of true or false

true bug
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An insect with a thin mouth that pierces and sucks fluids, like a water strider

true pepper
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A climbing plant from the tropics that makes small round spice seeds used in cooking

A faith people believe is the only correct one compared to other religions

true rib
  • Specialized
1 5.8

One of the first seven ribs that connects directly to the breastbone

true vocal cord
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A thin piece of tissue in the throat that vibrates to make the voice

true anomaly
  • Specialized
9.9

An angle you measure along the path around a planet or star from the closest point

true bacteria
  • Specialized
4.2

A major group of bacteria with firm cell walls, including common kinds that cause disease

true bayard
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who shows great courage and honesty

true cedar
  • Specialized
7.4

A tall evergreen tree of the Cedrus group that grows on high mountains like the Himalayas or Mediterranean

A rude, insulting slang word for a disliked person from Connecticut

A person who handles difficult talks calmly and keeps peace

true beardo
  • Slang
9.6

A man who proudly cares for and styles his beard

A bush that grows sweet black or dark purple berries you can eat

true cat
  • Specialized
2.7

A small animal like a house cat or wildcat that cannot roar, unlike lions

true dwarf
  • Archaic
9.8

A person who is very short because of a gene problem but with normal body shape and mind

true fungus
  • Specialized
7.0

A living thing like a mushroom or mold with cell walls made of chitin that makes spores

true gent
  • Informal
7.0

A man who is very polite and kind to others

A person who travels to many countries around the world

true glottis
  • Specialized
8.8

The space between the two vocal cords in the voice box

A small tree from warm places that makes sweet round yellow fruit

true fir
  • Specialized
6.7

A tall evergreen tree with needle leaves and upright cones often used as a Christmas tree

true flapper
  • Archaic
9.9

A young woman in the 1920s with short hair, bold makeup, and lively, daring style

true flycatcher
  • Specialized
9.1

A small bird that catches insects while flying

true foodie
  • Informal
4.6

A person who loves trying new and different foods and restaurants

true frog
  • Specialized
5.6

A smooth-bodied animal that lives in water and on land with long back legs and webbed feet

A small shrub with bell-shaped flowers found in Europe and Africa

A small evergreen tree from the Mediterranean with glossy fragrant leaves used to flavor food and for wreaths

A large sea animal with two big claws that people eat

A decorative knot used as a sign of love, often seen in jewelry

A decorative knot design that shows love and loyalty in jewelry

A knot used to join the ends of two ropes so they stay together

Climbing plant with many sweet-smelling white flowers used in perfume and tea

A person who collects old broken things and fixes them for fun

9.9

A loyal friend or partner who always supports you

9.9

A person from Sunderland who strongly supports the local football team

A tree from the Caribbean that gives deep brown, strong wood used for furniture

true pine
  • Specialized
6.4

A tree in the Pinus group that has long needles and cones

Good qualities like honesty, courage, and respect that show a man treats others well

true marmoset
  • Specialized
9.8

A small South American monkey with soft fur that often has twins and is not a tamarin

A person who plans and organizes complex activities from behind the scenes

true sandalwood
  • Australian
9.1

A tree that grows on other plants in Indonesia and Malaysia with yellow, fragrant wood that repels insects

true satori
  • Specialized
9.9

A sudden real moment of deep understanding during meditation

true seal
  • Specialized
6.5

A sea mammal without visible ears, with fur and back flippers for swimming

true senna
  • Specialized
8.0

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves help people with constipation

true slime mold
  • Specialized
9.6

A soft mass of many cells that moves like an amoeba and feeds on decaying plants

true puffball
  • Specialized
9.3

A round mushroom that releases a cloud of spores when you touch it

A man who shows deep love and does dramatic, romantic things

true sago palm
  • Australian
8.9

A palm tree whose trunk gives a starchy food used for cooking

A person who knows and appreciates fine art, music and food

true tulipwood
  • Specialized
9.0

Light, easy to work wood from the tulip tree used for furniture and veneers

true toad
  • Specialized
8.2

A tailless amphibian with dry, warty skin that lives mostly on land

true vampire bat
  • Specialized
9.2

A bat from tropical America that drinks the blood of animals like cows and birds

true warbler
  • Specialized
9.9

A small active songbird usually brown or grey from Europe, Asia and Africa

true Whiggamore
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who strongly supports a political party, especially the Whiggamores

A very skilled violin player like Yehudi Menuhin

true vocal fold
  • Specialized
7.0

Thin bands of tissue in the voice box that vibrate to make voice when air passes between them

Very similar to real life and easy to imagine

How Aligned

to true
  • Specialized
1 8.4
to align
89 3.5
to adjust
317 2.7
to skew
9 4.8
to tilt
147 2.0

Surface Forms

true infinitive
trued past
trued past participle
truing present participle
trues third person singular

Etymology

True as a verb comes from the adjective true (Old English trēowe 'faithful'), so to true a wheel or edge is to make it exactly straight or correctly aligned to the proper line.