Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Trick?

\Trick\, n. [D. trek a pull, or drawing, a trick, trekken to draw; akin to LG. trekken, MHG. trecken, trechen, Dan. tr[ae]kke, and OFries. trekka. Cf. {Track}, {Trachery}, {Trig}, a., {Trigger}.] 1. An artifice or stratagem; a cunning contrivance; a sly procedure, usually with a dishonest intent; as, a trick in trade. He comes to me for counsel, and I show him a trick. --South. I know a trick worth two of that. --Shak. 2. A sly, dexterous, or ingenious procedure fitted to puzzle or amuse; as, a bear's tricks; a juggler's tricks. 3. Mischievous or annoying behavior; a prank; as, the tricks of boys. --Prior. 4. A particular habit or manner; a peculiarity; a trait; as, a trick of drumming with the fingers; a trick of frowning. The trick of that voice I do well remember. --Shak. He hath a trick of C[oe]ur de Lion's face. --Shak. 5. A knot, braid, or plait of hair. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. 6. (Card Playing) The whole number of cards played in one round, and consisting of as many cards as there are players. On one nice trick depends the general fate. --Pope. 7. (Naut.) A turn; specifically, the spell of a sailor at the helm, -- usually two hours. 8. A toy; a trifle; a plaything. [Obs.] --Shak. Syn: Stratagem; wile; fraud; cheat; juggle; finesse; sleight; deception; imposture; delusion; imposition.
\Trick\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tricked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tricking}.] 1. To deceive by cunning or artifice; to impose on; to defraud; to cheat; as, to trick another in the sale of a horse. 2. To dress; to decorate; to set off; to adorn fantastically; -- often followed by up, off, or out. `` Trick her off in air.'' --Pope. People lavish it profusely in tricking up their children in fine clothes, and yet starve their minds. --Locke. They are simple, but majestic, records of the feelings of the poet; as little tricked out for the public eye as his diary would have been. --Macaulay. 3. To draw in outline, as with a pen; to delineate or distinguish without color, as arms, etc., in heraldry. They forget that they are in the statutes: . . . there they are tricked, they and their pedigrees. --B. Jonson.