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