I. ˈtrik noun
Etymology: Middle English trikke, from Anglo-French * trik, from trikier to deceive, cheat, from Vulgar Latin * triccare, alteration of Latin tricari to behave evasively, shuffle, from tricae complications, trifles
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : a crafty procedure or practice meant to deceive or defraud
b. : a mischievous act : prank
c. : an indiscreet or childish action
d. : a deceptive, dexterous, or ingenious feat ; especially : one designed to puzzle or amuse
a juggler's trick s
2.
a. : a habitual peculiarity of behavior or manner
a horse with the trick of shying
b. : a characteristic and identifying feature
a trick of speech
c. : a delusive appearance especially when caused by art or legerdemain : an optical illusion
a mere trick of the light
3.
a.
(1) : a quick or artful way of getting a result : knack
the trick is to make it look natural
(2) : an instance of getting a desired result
one small adjustment will do the trick
b. : a technical device (as of an art or craft)
the trick s of stage technique
4. : the cards played in one round of a card game often used as a scoring unit
5.
a. : a turn of duty at the helm usually lasting for two hours
b. : shift 4b(1)
c. : a trip taken as part of one's employment
d. : a sexual act performed by a prostitute
turning trick s
also : john 2
6. : an attractive child or woman
a cute little trick
Synonyms:
trick , ruse , stratagem , maneuver , artifice , wile , feint mean an indirect means to gain an end. trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end
the tricks of the trade
ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression
the ruses of smugglers
stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy
the stratagem -filled game
maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty
last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy
artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention
the clever artifices of the stage
wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements
used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself
feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent
a feint toward the enemy's left flank
II. transitive verb
Date: circa 1500
1. : to dress or adorn fancifully or ornately : ornament
trick ed out in a gaudy uniform
2. : to deceive by cunning or artifice : cheat
III. adjective
Date: circa 1530
1. : trig
2.
a. : of or relating to or involving tricks or trickery
trick photography
trick dice
b. : skilled in or used for tricks
a trick horse
3.
a. : somewhat defective and unreliable
a trick lock
b. : inclined to give way unexpectedly
a trick knee