n. & v.
n. 1 a playing-card of a suit ranking above the others. 2 an advantage esp. involving surprise. 3 colloq. a a helpful or admired person. b Austral. & NZ a person in authority.
v. 1 a tr. defeat (a card or its player) with a trump. b intr. play a trump card when another suit has been led. 2 tr. colloq. gain a surprising advantage over (a person, proposal, etc.). trump card 1 a card belonging to, or turned up to determine, a trump suit. 2 colloq. a a valuable resource. b a surprise move to gain an advantage. trump up fabricate or invent (an accusation, excuse, etc.) (on a trumped-up charge). turn up trumps Brit. colloq. 1 turn out better than expected. 2 be greatly successful or helpful.
[ corrupt. of TRIUMPH in the same (now obs.) sense ]