True a. [Compar. Truer superl. Truest.]
 1. Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it states the facts.
 2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original.
    Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time.   --Sir W. Scott.
 3. Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious; as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his charge.
 Thy so true,
 So faithful, love unequaled.   --Milton.
    Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie.   --Herbert.
 4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian.
    The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.   --John i. 9.
    True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.   --Pope.
 5. Biol. Genuine; real; not deviating from the essential characters of a class; as, a lizard is a true reptile; a whale is a true, but not a typical, mammal.
 Note: ☞ True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true.
 Out of true, varying from correct mechanical form, alignment, adjustment, etc.; -- said of a wall that is not perpendicular, of a wheel whose circumference is not in the same plane, and the like. [Colloq.]
 A true bill Law, a bill of indictment which is returned by the grand jury so indorsed, signifying that the charges to be true.
 True time. See under Time.
 out of true
      adj : not accurately fitted; not level; "the frame was out of
            true"; "off-level floors and untrue doors and windows"
            [syn: untrue]