Dictionary
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.
11. Cards.
a. the group or set of cards played and won in one round.
b. a point or scoring unit.
c. a card that is a potential winner. Cf.
honor trick.
12. Informal.a child or young girl:
a pretty little trick.
13. Slang.
a. a prostitute's customer.
b. a sexual act between a prostitute and a customer.
14. Heraldry.
a. a preliminary sketch of a coat of arms.
b. See
engraver's trick.
15. do or turn the trick, to achieve the desired effect or result:
Another turn of the pliers should do the trick.
16. turn a trick, Slang.(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. Heraldry.to indicate the tinctures of (a coat of arms) with engraver's tricks.
3. to cheat or swindle (usually fol. by
out of):
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. Slang.to engage in sexual acts for hire.
4. trick out, Informal.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.
