26984 words

trick

12 definitions • 15 examples
1
an action that is intended to deceive, either as a way of cheating someone, or as a joke or form of entertainment:

Examples:

play a trick on She played a really nasty trick on me - she put syrup in my shampoo bottle!
do a trick My niece was showing me all the tricks that she's learned to do with her new magic set.
trick photography It's trick photography - she's supposed to look like she's walking on water.
2
to be an effect caused by light, making something appear different:

Examples:

For a moment I thought you had a patch of grey hair, but it's just a trick of the light.
3
what children say when they go

Examples:

I thought I heard kids shouting "Trick or treat!"
4
an effective or quick way of doing something:

Examples:

trick to What's the trick to getting this chair to fold up?
On page 21, some tricks to speed up your beauty routine.
5
to deceive someone, often as a part of a plan:

Examples:

trick someone into doing something Dean tricked the old lady into giving him eight hundred dollars.
6
used to deceive someone, either as a joke or form of entertainment or so that they make a mistake:

Examples:

a trick question
7
A trick part of the body, especially a joint (= place where two bones are connected), sometimes feels weak suddenly and unexpectedly:

Examples:

I have a trick ankle that gives me problems if I run too much.
8
an action intended to deceive, either as a way of cheating someone or as a joke or form of entertainment:

Examples:

He showed us some card tricks.
9
Trick or treat is what children say on Halloween, when they dress to look frightening or amusing and visit people’s homes to ask for candy:

Examples:

Are your kids too old for trick or treating (= visiting people’s homes to ask for candy)?
10
a quick or effective way of doing something:

Examples:

What’s the trick to pulling out this sofa bed?
11
(of a part of the body, esp. a joint) sometimes feeling weak suddenly and unexpectedly:

Examples:

I’ve had a trick knee ever since I played football.
12
to make someone believe something that is not true, or to persuade someone to do something based on a false understanding of the facts:

Examples:

She tricked me into telling her what I was up to.

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