trust

n. & v.
—n.
1 a a firm belief in the reliability or truth or strength etc. of a person or thing. b the state of being relied on.
2 a confident expectation.
3 a a thing or person committed to one's care. b the resulting obligation or responsibility (am in a position of trust; have fulfilled my trust).
4 a person or thing confided in (is our sole trust).
5 reliance on the truth of a statement etc. without examination.
6 commercial credit (obtained goods on trust).
7 Law a confidence placed in a person by making that person the nominal owner of property to be used for another's benefit. b the right of the latter to benefit by such property. c the property so held. d the legal relation between the holder and the property so held.
8 a a body of trustees. b an organization managed by trustees. c an organized association of several companies for the purpose of reducing or defeating competition etc., esp. one in which all or most of the stock is transferred to a central committee and shareholders lose their voting power although remaining entitled to profits.
—v.
1 tr. place trust in; believe in; rely on the character or behaviour of.
2 tr. (foll. by with) allow (a person) to have or use (a thing) from confidence in its proper use (was reluctant to trust them with my books).
3 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) have faith or confidence or hope that a thing will take place (I trust you will not be late; I trust that she is recovering).
4 tr. (foll. by to) consign (a thing) to (a person) with trust.
5 tr. (foll. by for) allow credit to (a customer) for (goods).
6 intr. (foll. by in) place reliance in (we trust in you).
7 intr. (foll. by to) place (esp. undue) reliance on (shall have to trust to luck).
Phrases and idioms:
in trust Law held on the basis of trust (see sense 7 of n.). on trust
1 on credit.
2 on the basis of trust or confidence. take on trust accept (an assertion, claim, etc.) without evidence or investigation. trust company a company formed to act as a trustee or to deal with trusts. trust fund a fund of money etc. held in trust. trust territory a territory under the trusteeship of the United Nations or of a State designated by them.
Derivatives:
trustable adj. truster n.
Etymology: ME troste, truste (n.) f. ON traust f. traustr strong: (v.) f. ON treysta, assim. to the noun