trigger point

noun

: a localized usually tender or painful area of the body and especially of a muscle that when stimulated gives rise to pain elsewhere in the body

Examples of trigger point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Nobel Peace Prize this year was given to an organization that has warned of the dangers of nuclear war and South Asia remains one of the most sensitive trigger points for such a conflagration. —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

The protocol sets clear trigger points based on temperature thresholds. —Harry Booth, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024

Almost everybody experiences sensitive trigger points at one point or another in their life. —Harri Weber, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2024

With these factors in mind, here are a few use cases to consider: Heritage Sites By leveraging specialized trigger points, AR enables visitors to uncover digital reconstructions and 360-degree panoramas that narrate the unique stories of these locations. —Nick Cherukuri, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1891, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

trigger point

noun

: a localized usually tender or painful area of the body and especially of a muscle that when stimulated gives rise to pain elsewhere in the body

A trigger point in the calf muscle can also cause discomfort or weakness in the heel or arch; a trigger point in the thigh may cause pain around the knee.

—Runner's World

called also trigger area, trigger zone