TRICK


Meaning of TRICK in English

I. ˈtrik noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English trik, from Old North French trique, from trikier to trick, cheat, deceive

1.

a. : a mean crafty procedure or practice : an artifice or stratagem designed to deceive, delude, or defraud

scrupled at no trick however unfair that would get her her own way

b. : a mischievous or roguish act : a piece of tomfoolery (as a prank or practical joke)

playing harmless tricks on one another

c. : an unwise, indiscreet, or childish action : a stupid procedure

it's a fool's trick to trust a stranger too far

d. : a deceptive, dexterous, or ingenious feat or procedure designed to puzzle or amuse

a juggler's tricks

learned to do card tricks

taught his dog several tricks

2.

a. archaic : a small article (as a toy, trifle, or knickknack)

b. tricks plural : the small miscellaneous articles that supplement an arrangement

the tricks and bits that give a room personality

also : personal effects , traps

left his tricks at the camp

c. dialect : an amulet or charm against misfortune

3.

a. : an habitual peculiarity of behavior or manner : habit , custom

a horse with the trick of shying at dead leaves

a small stream that had the unfortunate trick of overflowing every spring

had a trick of appearing to drowse while he listened

b. : a characteristic and identifying feature (as of fashion or expression)

a trick of speech

the trick of that voice, I do well remember — Shakespeare

c. : a delusive appearance especially when caused by art of legerdemain : an optical illusion

a mere trick of vision

also : something causing such an effect

some trick of lighting made her appear gaunt and haggard

4. : a rough or preliminary outline sketch of a heraldic representation

5. : knack: as

a. : a quick or effective way of getting a result or attaining an end

knows the trick to make my lady laugh — Shakespeare

b.

(1) : an artful or artificial expedient or contrivance : a technical device or formality (as of an art or craft)

the tricks of stage technique

the trick of depicting perspective on a flat surface

(2) tricks plural : the special skills and deft laborsaving methods that characterize an expert

learning the tricks of the trade

c.

(1) : an act involving or requiring skillful dexterity or ingenuity

the trick is to make everything appear natural

(2) : a precise, skillful, and usually rapid effecting of an aim or result often by the use of a substitute or an alternate means

shaving a bit from the edge will do the trick and make the door fit

6.

a. : the cards played in one round of a card game

b. : a scoring unit in a card game: as

(1) : one consisting of the cards won in one round of play

(2) : odd trick

(3) : honor-trick

c. : a card as a potential score winner

an ace of trumps is a sure trick in bridge

7. : a continuous stretch of some activity: as

a. : a sailor's turn of duty at the helm usually lasting for two hours

b. : shift 2b(2)

c. : a trip taken as part of one's employment

returned from a long trick in the rural areas

d. slang : a professional engagement of a prostitute

8.

a. : a small creature (as a pony): as

(1) : child

(2) : a neat trim pretty young woman

the cutest trick you ever want to see

b. slang : the customer of a prostitute

9. : a cut in a needlebar of a knitting machine to receive a needle

Synonyms:

ruse , stratagem , maneuver , artifice , wile , feint , dodge : trick may indicate cheating or fraud, clever device or contrivance that pleases, deludes, or surprises, or a playful prank or practical joke

such tricks as the substitution of goat's milk for cow's milk — Clair Sterling

tricks and devices to conceal evasions and violations of ethical principles — H.A.Wagner

a competent and resourceful musician who always knew what he was doing, was familiar with the tricks of the trade — P.H.Lang

the trick is always to tag the other fellow as Red — T.H.White b.1915

ringing doorbells and extracting treats under threat of tricks has made Halloween a profitable grab bag for most kids — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union

ruse may imply an intention at false impression, as to divert attention from the truth or from what one intends

used the old ruse of oxen dragging trees to create a dust that would give the English the impression of a large force moving — Stuart Cloete

threw his cap and a large stone into the river and this ruse succeeded in convincing his pursuers that he was drowned — S.P.B.Mais

stratagem may apply to a single ruse that outwits or entraps; it is applicable to a more or less carefully laid plan involving deception

driven to every possible trick and stratagem to entrap some man into marriage — G.B.Shaw

a dazzling sea-fighter who by downright courage, stratagem and audacity succeeded in frightening the British people — C.B.Palmer b.1910

maneuver may suggest an instance of tactics or manipulation, often adroit and astute

the last of all the company to depart, and, by a maneuver of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour — Jane Austen

thanks to Italy's mysterious maneuvers by way of keeping valuable information well hidden — Claudia Cassidy

artifice may suggest ingenious contrivance or invention, with or without deception

the artifices by which friends endeavor to spare one another's feelings — G.B.Shaw

the forthright story of a man's life told in a style of transparent clarity that needs no artifices to make it vivid — C.H.Driver

wile may imply an attempt to ensnare or beguile by deceptive allurement

were I to lure him here with cunning wile — W.S.Gilbert & A.S.Sullivan

feint indicates a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's genuine intent

tricked the enemy commander by a feint off Tinian Town and sent Marines ashore at the opposite end of the island — Current Biography

dodge refers to any artful expedient

largely disfranchised by various police measures and legislative dodges which prevent his getting to the polls — W.L.Sperry

a special dodge to get electric light for his father's house without paying for it — J.B.S.Haldane

II. adjective

1. : of or relating to or involving tricks or trickery

trick photography

: skilled in or used for tricks

trick dice

a trick horse

2. : conspicuously smart, attractive, effective, or able ; especially : trickily or intriguingly fashioned or devised

3.

a. : somewhat defective and inclined to function abnormally on occasion

a trick lock that doesn't always catch

b. of a bodily joint : inclined to lock or give way unexpectedly

a trick knee resulting from a football injury

III. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

transitive verb

1. : to deceive by cunning or artifice : impose on, defraud, or cheat usually by specious means : affect or induce by deceit or trickery

trick another in a sale

trick him into consent

2. : to obtain or bring about by trickery

advertising designed to trick your purse

3.

a. : to dress or adorn especially fancifully or ornately : ornament , decorate

a request tricked with expressions of devotion

— usually used with up, out, off

tricked out in a gaudy lodge uniform

planned to trick ourselves up for the party

b. : to put in order : arrange , preen

horses with manes and tails tricked and beribboned

4. : to draw in outline (as with a pen) ; specifically : to delineate (as a coat of arms) by outline sketches in which the tinctures are indicated by abbreviations and the repetition of a charge by numbers

intransitive verb

1. : to practice trickery or fraud

2. : to practice or play tricks or pranks : trifle — usually used with with

Synonyms: see dupe

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.