trick
I
 /ˈtrık/  noun  ,  pl   tricks [  count  ]
  1 : an action that is meant to deceive someone
   It was a trick to persuade her to give him money.
   That was a dirty/mean/rotten trick. [=an unkind or unfair thing to do]
  — see also dirty tricks
  2 : something done to surprise or confuse someone and to make other people laugh
   He played a trick on me. [=he tricked me]
   She enjoys playing tricks on her friends.
  3 : a clever and skillful action that someone performs to entertain or amuse people
   For his last trick, the magician made a rabbit disappear.
   magic/card/circus tricks
  4 : a clever and effective way of doing something
   I know a good trick for removing stains from clothes.
   He knows a lot of useful programming tricks.
   a handy trick for remembering names
   He has a lot of experience with gardening, so he should be able to show/teach us a trick or two. [=he should be able to give us good advice about gardening]
  5 : something that causes confusion or that makes something seem different from what it actually is
   He was so tired his mind was playing tricks on him. [=he could not think clearly]
   The paint looked blue, but it was just a trick of the light. [=the light made the paint appear blue even though it was a different color]
  6 : the cards that are played in one round of a card game
   She has won the last three tricks.
  7 US, informal : a sex act performed by a prostitute
   She was living on the street and turning tricks [=taking money for sex] to survive.
  do the trick
    informal   : to produce a desired result : to solve a problem
    One small adjustment will do the trick.
  every trick in the book
   ◇ If you try every trick in the book, you do everything you can to achieve something.
    They'll use every trick in the book to get you to buy their products.
    He tried every trick in the book [=he tried every method he knew] to get the car started, but nothing worked.
   
  never/not miss a trick
    informal   : to notice everything : to always know what is happening
    He never misses a trick.
  trick of the/your trade — see trade, 1
  up to your (old) tricks
    informal  
   ◇ If you are up to your (old) tricks, you are doing the kind of dishonest things that you have done in the past.
  you can't teach an old dog new tricks — see dog, 1
 — see also hat trick, trick or treat
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II
  verb  , tricks, tricked, trick·ing [  + obj  ]
  : to deceive (someone)
   He tricked her by wearing a disguise.
  trick into [  phrasal verb  ]
   trick (someone or something) into (something) : to use a trick to make (someone or something) do (something)
    He was tricked into buying the car. [=he bought the car because he was deceived]
  trick out [  phrasal verb  ]
   1 trick (someone) out : to dress (someone or yourself) in an unusual way
    — usually + in
    She was tricked out in a horrible, brightly colored costume.
   
   2 trick (something) out or trick out (something) : to decorate (something)
    — usually + with
    The room was tricked out with ribbons and streamers.
   
  trick out of [  phrasal verb  ]
   trick (someone) out of (something) : to use a trick to get (something) from (someone)
    She was tricked out of [=cheated out of] her savings.
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III
  adj  , always used before a noun
  1 : using methods that are meant to deceive someone
   trick photography [=photography that uses special methods to make things that are not real seem to be real]
   a trick question [=a deceptive question that is intended to make you give an answer that is not correct or that causes trouble for you]
  2 : done in a clever or entertaining way
   a trick shot in pool
  3 US : weak and tending to fail suddenly
   He has a trick knee.