trick (tr?k)n.1. a. An act or procedure intended to achieve an end by deceptive or fraudulent means. See Synonyms at wile.b. A mischievous action; a prank: likes to play tricks on the other students in the dorm.c. A stupid, disgraceful, or childish act: Don’t let the kids pull any tricks while we’re gone.2. a. A peculiar trait or characteristic; a mannerism: “Mimicry is the trick by which a moth or other defenseless insect comes to look like a wasp” (Marston Bates).b. A peculiar event with unexpected, often deceptive results: “One of history’s cruelest tricks is to take words that sounded good at the time and make them sound pretty stupid” (David Owen).c. A deceptive or illusive appearance; an illusion: This painting plays tricks on the eyes.3. a. A special skill; a knack: Is there a trick to getting this window to stay up?b. A convention or specialized skill peculiar to a particular field of activity: learned the tricks of the winemaking trade.4. a. A feat of magic or legerdemain.b. A difficult, dexterous, or clever act designed to amuse: Does your dog do any tricks?5. Games a. All the cards played in a single round, one from each player.b. One such round.6. a. A period or turn of duty, as at the helm of a ship.b. Slang A prison term.7. Slang a. An act of prostitution.b. A prostitute’s customer.c. A session carried out by a prostitute with a client.8. Slang A robbery or theft.tr. & intr.v. tricked, trick·ing, tricks To cheat or deceive or to practice trickery or deception.adj.1. Of, relating to, or involving tricks.2. Capable of performing tricks: a trick dog.3. Designed or made for doing a trick or tricks: trick cards; trick dice.4. Weak, defective, or liable to fail: a trick knee.Phrasal Verb: trick out (or up) Informal To ornament or adorn, often garishly: was all tricked out in beads and fringe.Idioms: do/turn the trick To bring about the desired result. how’s tricks Informal Used to make a friendly inquiry about a person or that person’s affairs. not miss a trick To be extremely alert: The teacher was known for not missing a trick.[Middle English trik, from Old North French trique, from trikier, to deceive, probably from Vulgar Latin *tricc?re, from Latin tr?c?r?, to play tricks, from tr?cae, tricks.]trick?er n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.trick (tr?k) n1. a deceitful, cunning, or underhand action or plan2. a. a mischievous, malicious, or humorous action or plan; joke: the boys are up to their tricks again. b. (as modifier): a trick spider. 3. an illusory or magical feat or device4. a simple feat learned by an animal or person5. an adroit or ingenious device; knack: a trick of the trade. 6. a behavioural trait, habit, or mannerism7. a turn or round of duty or work8. (Card Games) cards a. a batch of cards containing one from each player, usually played in turn and won by the player or side that plays the card with the highest valueb. a card that can potentially win a trick9. can’t take a trick slang Austral to be consistently unsuccessful or unlucky10. do the trick informal to produce the right or desired result11. how’s tricks? slang how are you?12. turn a trick slang (of a prostitute) to gain a customervbto defraud, deceive, or cheat (someone), esp by means of a trick[C15: from Old Northern French trique, from trikier to deceive, from Old French trichier, ultimately from Latin tr?c?r? to play tricks] ?tricker n ?trickless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014trick (tr?k) 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. 4. the art or knack of doing something skillfully: the trick of making others laugh. 5. a clever or dexterous feat intended to entertain, amuse, etc.: This bird can do some amazing tricks. 6. a feat of magic or legerdemain: card tricks. 7. an optical illusion: a trick played by the flickering lights. 8. a mean, foolish, or childish action. 9. a behavioral peculiarity; habit; mannerism. 10. a period or tour of duty; stint. 11. 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. 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. adj. 14. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or involving tricks: trick shooting. 15. specially made or used for tricks: a trick chair. 16. (of a joint) inclined to stiffen or weaken suddenly and unexpectedly: a trick shoulder. v.t. 17. to deceive by trickery. 18. to cheat or swindle (usu. fol. by out of): to trick someone out of an inheritance. 19. to beguile by trickery (usu. fol. by into). v.i. 20. to practice trickery or deception; cheat. 21. to play tricks; trifle (usu. fol. by with). 22. trick out, to adorn with fancy ornaments. Idioms: do or turn the trick, to produce the desired effect. [1375?1425; late Middle English trik (n.)