Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Trump?

\Trump\, n. [OE. trumpe, trompe, F. trompe; probably fr. L. triumphare to triumph, to exult, hence, probably, to make a joyous sound or noise. See {Triumph}, v. i. & n., and cf. {Trombone}, {Tromp}, {Trump} at cards, {Trumpery}, {Trumpet}, {Trunk} a proboscis.] A wind instrument of music; a trumpet, or sound of a trumpet; -- used chiefly in Scripture and poetry. We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. --1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. The wakeful trump of doom. --Milton.
\Trump\, v. i. [Cf. OF. tromper. See {Trump} a trumpet.] To blow a trumpet. [Obs.] --Wyclif (Matt. vi. 2).
\Trump\, n. [A corruption of triumph, F. triomphe. See {Triumph}, and cf. {Trump} a trumpet.] 1. A winning card; one of a particular suit (usually determined by chance for each deal) any card of which takes any card of the other suits. 2. An old game with cards, nearly the same as whist; -- called also {ruff}. --Decker. 3. A good fellow; an excellent person. [Slang] Alfred is a trump, I think you say. --Thackeray. {To put to one's trumps}, or {To put on one's trumps}, to force to the last expedient, or to the utmost exertion. But when kings come so low as to fawn upon philosophy, which before they neither valued nor understood, it is a sign that fails not, they are then put to their last trump. --Milton. Put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate them. --W. Irving.
\Trump\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Trumped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trumping}.] To play a trump card when one of another suit has been led.
\Trump\, v. t. To play a trump card upon; to take with a trump card; as, she trumped the first trick.
\Trump\, v. t. [F. tromper to deceive, in OF., to blow a trumpet, se tromper de to mock. See {Trump} a trumpet.] 1. To trick, or impose on; to deceive. [Obs.] ``To trick or trump mankind.'' --B. Jonson. 2. To impose unfairly; to palm off. Authors have been trumped upon us. --C. Leslie. {To trump up}, to devise; to collect with unfairness; to fabricate; as, to trump up a charge.