Meaning & Definition of word "Troll"

Troll

/trɒl/

noun:

  • 1. A mythical creature depicted as a giant, typically ugly and brutish, found in folklore.
    • Example: In Scandinavian folklore, trolls are often portrayed as large, menacing creatures living in mountains.
  • 2. A person who intentionally provokes or annoys others online, typically by posting inflammatory or off-topic messages.
    • Example: The online forum was filled with trolls who derailed meaningful discussions with their hateful comments.

verb:

  • 1. To make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post.
    • Example: He decided to troll the social media posts to see how people would react to his controversial opinions.
  • 2. To fish for a catch by trailing a baited line behind a boat.
    • Example: They planned to troll along the coastline, trying to catch some fish for dinner.

Etymology

From Old Norse 'troll', meaning a giant or monstrous creature.

Common Phrases and Expressions

trolling for attention:

Actively seeking to provoke a reaction from others.

troll the comments:

To post controversial or shocking remarks in a comment section.

Related Words

cyberbully:

A person who uses the internet to harass or intimidate others.

internet troll:

A user who deliberately stirs up conflict online.

flame:

An angry or combative comment or post.

Slang Meanings of troll

Meaning: A person who engages in trolling online.

Example Sentence: Don't take what that troll says seriously; they're just looking for attention.

Meaning: To intentionally upset someone online.

Example Sentence: She loves to troll her friends on social media with ridiculous memes.