Trick

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. An artifice or stratagem; a cunning contrivance; a sly procedure, usually with a dishonest intent; as, a trick in trade. tricks of the trade mean simply specialized knowledge, in a good or neutral sense. 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 Coeur de Lion's face. Shak.

5. A knot, braid, or plait of hair. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

6. 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. A turn; specifically, the spell of a sailor at the helm, -- usually two hours.

8. A toy; a trifle; a plaything. [Obs.] Shak.

Synonyms: Stratagem; wile; fraud; cheat; juggle; finesse; sleight; deception; imposture; delusion; imposition.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

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.