First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1trip
verb \ˈtrip\
: to hit your foot against something while you are walking or running so that you fall or almost fall
: to cause (someone who is walking or running) to fall or almost fall
: to dance or walk with light, quick steps
trippedtrip·ping
Full Definition of TRIP
intransitive verb
1
a : to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps b : to walk with light quick steps
2
: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
3
: to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
4
: to stumble in articulation when speaking
5
: to make a journey
6
a : to actuate a mechanism b : to become operative
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to stumble —often used with up b : to cause to fail : obstruct —often used with up
2
: to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder; also : expose —usually used with up
3
archaic : to perform (as a dance) lightly or nimbly
4
: to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5
a : to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering b : to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6
: to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent <trip the fire alarm>
— trip the light fantastic
: dance
See trip defined for English-language learners
Origin of TRIP
Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap
2trip
noun
: a journey to a place
: a short journey to a store, business, office, etc., for a particular purpose
: the experience of strange mental effects (such as seeing things that are not real) that is produced by taking a very powerful drug (such as LSD)
Full Definition of TRIP
1
: a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing
4
: a quick light step
5
: a faltering step caused by stumbling
6
a : the action of tripping mechanically b : a device for tripping a mechanism (as a catch or detent)
7
a : an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (as LSD) b : an exciting or unusual experience <the party was a trip>
8
: absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind <a guilt trip> <on a nostalgia trip>
See trip defined for English-language learners
See trip defined for kids
First Known Use of TRIP
14th century
Related to TRIP
- Synonyms
- expedition, passage, peregrination, travel(s), trek, journey
TRIP Defined for Kids
1trip
verb \ˈtrip\
trippedtrip·ping
Definition of TRIP for Kids
1
: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble : cause to stumble
2
: to make or cause to make a mistake <Their tricky questions tripped us up.>
3
: to move (as in dancing) with light quick steps <She tripped lightly around the room.>
4
: to release (as a spring) by moving a catch
2trip
noun
Definition of TRIP for Kids
1
: an instance of traveling from one place to another <a trip to Europe>
2
: a brief errand having a certain aim or being more or less regular <a trip to the dentist>
3
: the action of releasing something mechanically
4
: a device for releasing something by tripping a mechanism
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