n.
Pronunciation: ' trip
Function: verb
Inflected Form: tripped ; trip · ping
Etymology: Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread ― more at TRAP
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps b : to walk with light quick steps
2 : to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
3 : to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
4 : to stumble in articulation when speaking
5 : to make a journey
6 a : to actuate a mechanism b : to become operative
7 a : to get high on a psychedelic drug (as LSD) : TURN ON ― often used with out b slang : FREAK 3B
transitive verb
1 a : to cause to stumble ― often used with up b : to cause to fail : OBSTRUCT ― often used with up
2 : to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder also : EXPOSE ― usually used with up
3 archaic : to perform (as a dance) lightly or nimbly
4 : to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5 a : to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering b : to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6 : to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent < trip the fire alarm>
– trip the light fantastic : DANCE