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trick

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noun [countable] American English pronunciation: trick /trɪk/ 
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singulartrick
pluraltricks
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    an unfair or unpleasant thing that you do in order to harm someone or to get an advantage for yourself
    a dirty/cruel/nasty trick:

    It was a very dirty trick to play on anyone.

    a dirty tricks campaign:

    They had carried out a dirty tricks campaign against a rival airline.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
    1. a.
      something that you do in order to annoy someone or to make people laugh at them, often by making them believe something that is not true
      play a trick on someone:

      I thought he was playing a trick on me.

      your eyes are/your memory is playing tricks on you:

      Was it her, or were my eyes playing tricks on me?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
  2. 2
    a way of entertaining people by doing something that looks like magic

    For my next trick, I will make the balls disappear.

    do a trick:

    He does this great trick with a hat and two rabbits.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
  3. 3
    something that is not really what it seems to be

    Did she really see a boat, or was it just a trick of the light?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
  4. 4
    an effective and skillful way of doing something

    There's a trick to folding up this umbrella.

    the trick is:

    If you want to see her, the trick is to go early.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick

phrases

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This is the American English definition of trick. View British English definition of trick.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for trick.

 

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