trick

[[t]trɪk[/t]]

n.

1) a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, or stratagem intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse

2) a roguish or mischievous act; practical joke; prank

3) a clever or ingenious device or expedient; adroit technique:

the tricks of the trade[/ex]

4) the art or knack of doing something skillfully:

the trick of making others laugh[/ex]

5) a clever or dexterous feat intended to entertain, amuse, etc.:

This bird can do some amazing tricks[/ex]

6) a feat of magic or legerdemain:

card tricks[/ex]

7) an optical illusion:

a trick played by the flickering lights[/ex]

8) a mean, foolish, or childish action

9) a behavioral peculiarity; habit; mannerism

10) a period or tour of duty; stint

11) gam

a) the group or set of cards played and won in one round

b) a point or scoring unit based on this

c) a card that is a potential winner

12) inf a child or young girl:

a pretty little trick[/ex]

13) sts Slang.

a) a prostitute's customer

b) a sexual act between a prostitute and a customer

14) of, pertaining to, characterized by, or involving tricks:

trick shooting[/ex]

15) specially made or used for tricks:

a trick chair[/ex]

16) cvb pat (of a joint) inclined to stiffen or weaken suddenly and unexpectedly:

a trick shoulder[/ex]

17) to deceive by trickery

18) to cheat or swindle (usu. fol. by out of):

to trick someone out of an inheritance[/ex]

19) to beguile by trickery (usu. fol. by into)

20) to practice trickery or deception; cheat

21) to play tricks; trifle (usu. fol. by with)

22) phv inf trick out, to adorn with fancy ornaments

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Etymology: 1375–1425; late ME trik (n.) < ONF trique deceit, der. of trikier to deceive < VL *triccāre, for L trīcārī to play tricks trick′er, n. syn: trick, artifice, ruse, stratagem are terms for crafty or cunning devices intended to deceive. trick, the general term, refers usu. to an underhanded act designed to cheat someone, but it sometimes refers merely to a pleasurable deceiving of the senses: to win by a trick. Like trick, but to a greater degree, artifice emphasizes the cleverness or cunning with which the proceeding is devised: an artifice of diabolical ingenuity. ruse and stratagem emphasize the purpose for which the trick is designed; ruse is the more general term, and stratagem sometimes implies a more elaborate procedure or a military application: We gained entrance by a ruse. His stratagem gave the army command of the hill. See also cheat