trick: Meaning and Definition of

trick

Pronunciation: (trik), [key]
— n.
  1. a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile.
  2. an optical illusion: It must have been some visual trick caused by the flickering candlelight.
  3. a roguish or mischievous act; practical joke; prank: She likes to play tricks on her friends.
  4. a mean, foolish, or childish action.
  5. a clever or ingenious device or expedient; adroit technique: the tricks of the trade.
  6. the art or knack of doing something skillfully: You seem to have mastered the trick of making others laugh.
  7. a clever or dexterous feat intended to entertain, amuse, etc.: He taught his dog some amazing tricks.
  8. a feat of magic or legerdemain: card tricks.
  9. a behavioral peculiarity; trait; habit; mannerism.
  10. a period of duty or turn; stint; tour of duty: I relieved the pilot after he had completed his trick at the wheel.
    1. the group or set of cards played and won in one round.
    2. a point or scoring unit.
    3. a card that is a potential winner. Cf. honor trick.
  11. a child or young girl: a pretty little trick.
    1. a prostitute's customer.
    2. a sexual act between a prostitute and a customer.
    1. a preliminary sketch of a coat of arms.
    2. See engraver's trick.
  12. to achieve the desired effect or result: Another turn of the pliers should do the trick.
  13. (of a prostitute) to engage in a sexual act with a customer.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or involving tricks: trick shooting.
  2. designed or used for tricks: a trick chair.
  3. (of a joint) inclined to stiffen or weaken suddenly and unexpectedly: a trick shoulder.
—v.t.
  1. to deceive by trickery.
  2. to indicate the tinctures of (a coat of arms) with engraver's tricks.
  3. to cheat or swindle (usually fol. by out of&hasp;): to trick someone out of an inheritance.
  4. to beguile by trickery (usually fol. by into).
—v.i.
  1. to practice trickery or deception; cheat.
  2. to play tricks; trifle (usually fol. by with).
  3. to engage in sexual acts for hire.
  4. to embellish or adorn with or as if with ornaments or other attention-getting devices.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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