troll

10 definitions • 11 examples

an imaginary, either very large or very small creature in traditional Scandinavian stories, that has magical powers and lives in mountains or caves

someone who leaves an intentionally annoying or offensive message on the internet, in order to upset someone or to get attention or cause trouble

a message that someone leaves on the internet that is intended to annoy people:

A well-constructed troll will provoke irate or confused responses from flamers and newbies.

to try to catch fish by pulling a baited line through the water behind a boat:

Boats were trolling for mackerel.

They were trolling the colder waters of the Channel.

to search among a large number or many different places in order to find people or information you want:

They are trolling the internet for new customers.

to leave an insulting or offensive message on the internet in order to upset someone, or to get attention or cause trouble:

He's already getting trolled on social media for his comments after the game.

to intentionally do or say something annoying or offensive in order to upset someone, or to get attention or cause trouble:

Serving food this bad is just trolling.

Are you trolling me?

to fish from a boat that is moving slowly in the water and pulling a fishing line (= length of string with something attached that attracts fish) behind it:

Many of his friends had large boats, and they frequently traveled together trolling for mackerel.

to search in many places to find people or information you want, especially on the internet:

Eager to secure the company's future, he started trolling for merger partners.

troll for bargains/data/jobs

to try to get new customers by phoning or visiting people:

The economy has become more stable and lenders are trolling for customers again.