TRICK Definition & Meaning

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trick

[trik]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile.
Synonyms:
an optical illusion.
It must have been some visual trick caused by the flickering candlelight.
a roguish or mischievous act; practical joke; prank.
She likes to play tricks on her friends.
a mean, foolish, or childish action.
a clever or ingenious device or expedient; adroit technique.
the tricks of the trade.
the art or knack of doing something skillfully.
You seem to have mastered the trick of making others laugh.
a clever or dexterous feat intended to entertain, amuse, etc..
He taught his dog some amazing tricks.
a feat of magic or legerdemain.
card tricks.
a behavioral peculiarity; trait; habit; mannerism.
a period of duty or turn; stint; tour of duty.
I relieved the pilot after he had completed his trick at the wheel.
Cards.��
1. the group or set of cards played and won in one round.
2. a point or scoring unit.
3. a card that is a potential winner.
Informal.��a child or young girl.
a pretty little trick.
Slang.��
1. a prostitute's customer.
2. a sexual act between a prostitute and a customer.
Heraldry.��
1. a preliminary sketch of a coat of arms.
2. engraver's trick.

adjective

of, pertaining to, characterized by, or involving tricks.
trick shooting.
designed or used for tricks.
a trick chair.
(of a joint) inclined to stiffen or weaken suddenly and unexpectedly.
a trick shoulder.

verb (used with object)

to deceive by trickery.
Heraldry.��to indicate the tinctures of (a coat of arms) with engravers tricks.
to cheat or swindle (usually followed byout of ).
to trick someone out of an inheritance.
to beguile by trickery (usually followed byinto ).

verb (used without object)

to practice trickery or deception; cheat.
to play tricks; trifle (usually followed bywith ).
Slang.��to engage in sexual acts for hire.

verb phrase

Informal��to embellish or adorn with or as if with ornaments or other attention-getting devices.

trick

/ �ٰ�ɪ�� /

noun

a deceitful, cunning, or underhand action or plan
1. a mischievous, malicious, or humorous action or plan; joke
  the boys are up to their tricks again
2. ( as modifier )
  a trick spider
an illusory or magical feat or device
a simple feat learned by an animal or person
an adroit or ingenious device; knack
a trick of the trade
a behavioural trait, habit, or mannerism
a turn or round of duty or work
cards
1. a batch of cards containing one from each player, usually played in turn and won by the player or side that plays the card with the highest value
2. a card that can potentially win a trick
slang��to be consistently unsuccessful or unlucky
informal��to produce the right or desired result
slang��how are you?
slang��(of a prostitute) to gain a customer

verb

to defraud, deceive, or cheat (someone), esp by means of a trick

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

tricker noun
trickingly adverb
outtrick verb (used with object)
untricked adjective
ˈ�ٰ�� adjective
ˈ�ٰ�� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of trick¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English trik (noun), from Old North French trique “deceit,” derivative of trikier “to deceive,” from Vulgar Latin �ٰ�� (unrecorded), from Latin �ٰ�ī��ī “to play tricks,” derivative of �ٰ�ī�� “hindrances, nonsense, trifles”; alternatively, perhaps from Middle Dutch trecken “to draw, pull” (compare modern Dutch trekken; trek ( def. ) )

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of trick¹

C15: from Old Northern French trique , from trikier to deceive, from Old French trichier , ultimately from Latin �ٰ�ī��ī to play tricks

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

do / turn the trick, to achieve the desired effect or result.
Another turn of the pliers should do the trick.
turn a trick, (of a prostitute) to engage in a sexual act with a customer.

In addition to the idioms beginning with trick, also see bag of tricks; confidence game (trick); dirty tricks; do the trick; hat trick; how's tricks; not miss a trick; teach an old dog new tricks; that does it (the trick); turn a trick; up to one's old tricks.

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Synonym Study

Trick , artifice , ruse , stratagem , wile are terms for crafty or cunning devices that are intended to deceive. Trick , the general term, refers usually to an underhanded act designed to cheat someone, but it sometimes refers merely to a pleasurable deceiving of the senses: to win by a trick. Like trick , but to a greater degree, artifice emphasizes the cleverness, ingenuity, or cunning with which the proceeding is devised: an artifice of diabolical ingenuity. Ruse and stratagem emphasize the purpose for which the trick is designed; ruse is the more general term of the two, and stratagem sometimes implies a more elaborate procedure or a military application: He gained entrance by a ruse. His stratagem gave them command of the hill. W ile emphasizes the disarming effect of the trick upon those who are deceived: His wiles charmed them into trusting him. See cheat.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A teenager who was tricked into going to boarding school in Africa has won a significant legal victory against his own parents.

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The posers tricked victims with fake threats, like demanding payments to avoid legal consequences and potential computer issues, according to the Department of Justice.

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In response, Ukraine said that Russia was playing "dirty tricks" and manipulating the facts.

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While it’s bigger, stronger, better feeling, higher-res and comes with a couple new tricks, overall it’s primarily a refinement of the original Switch’s ideas.

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Malivert offered his favorite tips and tricks on how to put together the perfect farmers market meal, whether it’s an easy weeknight dinner or a weekend feast for friends and family.

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Related 51�Թ�s

conspiracy��
deception��
device��
distortion��
fraud��
gimmick��
hoax��
illusion��
maneuver��
plot��
ploy��
ruse��
trap��

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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