troll

UK: /trəʊl/ US: /troʊl/ ,(trōl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

troll¹ /troʊl/   v. 

1. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice: [no object]
   to troll merrily in the choir.
   [~ + object]
   to troll some notes.
2. Sport to fish in (a body of water) by trailing a line behind a slow-moving boat: [~ + object]
   trolling the lake for trout.
   [no object]
   trolling for trout.

n. [countable]

3. a song whose parts are sung one after the other;
   a round.
4. Sport the act of fishing by trolling.

troll² /troʊl/   n. [countable]

1. Mythology (in Scandinavian folk stories) a supernatural being, usually hostile to humans, who lives underground or in caves.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

troll¹ (trōl),  v.t. 

1. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice.
2. to sing in the manner of a round or catch.
3. to fish for or in with a moving line, working the line up or down with a rod, as in fishing for pike, or trailing the line behind a slow-moving boat.
4. to move (the line or bait) in doing this.
5. to cause to turn round and round;
   roll.
6. [Obs.] to hand around, as a bowl of liquor at table.

v.i. 

7. to sing with a full, rolling voice;
   give forth full, rolling tones.
8. to be uttered or sounded in such tones.
9. to fish by trolling.
10. to roll;
    turn round and round.
11. to move nimbly, as the tongue in speaking.

n. 

12. a song whose parts are sung in succession;
    a round.
13. the act of trolling.
14. a lure used in trolling for fish.
15. the fishing line containing the lure and hook for use in trolling.

• Middle High German trollen walk or run with short steps
• Middle French troller to run here and there
• Middle English trollen to roll, stroll 1350–1400

troll′er, n. 

troll² (trōl),  n. 

1. Mythology (in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.
2. Slang Terms a person who lives or sleeps in a park or under a viaduct or bridge, as a bag lady or derelict.

• Old Norse troll demon
• 1610–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

troll / trəʊl/ verb

1. to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat
2. to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling
3. to fish (for) by trolling
4. to roll or cause to roll
5. to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice
6. (intransitive) to walk or stroll

noun

1. a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French troller to run about; related to Middle High German trollen to run with short steps

ˈtroller noun

troll / trəʊl/ noun

1. (in Scandinavian folklore) one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants

Etymology: 19th Century: from Old Norse: demon; related to Danish trold