trick

/ˈtrik/

Middle English trikke, from Anglo-French *trik, from trikier to deceive, cheat, from Vulgar Latin *triccare, alteration of Latin tricari to behave evasively, shuffle, from tricae complications, trifles

noun

  1. a crafty procedure or practice meant to deceive or defraud

  2. a mischievous act : prank

  3. a deceptive, dexterous, or ingenious feat; especially : one designed to puzzle or amuse

trick ruse stratagem maneuver artifice wile feint mean an indirect means to gain an end. trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

verb

  1. to deceive by cunning or artifice : cheat

adjective

  1. of or relating to or involving tricks or trickery

  2. skilled in or used for tricks

  3. somewhat defective and unreliable

trick photography

a trick horse