trigger

n 1: activates the firing mechanism of a gun [syn: {gun trigger}]

2: an act that sets in motion some course of events [syn: {induction},

{initiation}]

v 1: actuate; "trigger a reaction" [syn: {trip}, {actuate}, {activate},

{set off}, {spark off}, {spark}, {trigger off}, {touch

off}]

2: pull the trigger on; "Trigger a weapon"

3: release a trigger; "trigger a gun"

trigger

An action causing the automatic invocation of a

procedure, for instance to preserve {referential integrity}.

A triggers goes into effect when a user attempts to modify

data with an insert, delete, or update command. A trigger can

instruct the system to take any number of actions when a

specified change is attempted. By preventing incorrect,

unauthorized, or inconsistent changes to data, triggers help

maintain the integrity of the database.

[Sybase SQL Server Release 10.0 Transact-SQL User's Guide].

(1995-02-22)