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The word "trigger" primarily means to cause something to start or happen. As a verb, it can mean to activate a mechanism, like firing a gun by pulling a trigger. It can also mean to initiate an event or action, such as a remark that triggers a fight. In a more emotional context, it can refer to causing an intense negative reaction in someone.1

As a noun, a trigger can be a device that activates something, or it can be a stimulus that sets off a reaction, like a reflex.213

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