| English Dictionary |
TRUMP
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does trump mean?
• TRUMP (noun)
The noun TRUMP has 3 senses:
1. a playing card in the suit that has been declared trumps
2. (card games) the suit that has been declared to rank above all other suits for the duration of the hand
3. a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves
Familiarity information: TRUMP used as a noun is uncommon.
• TRUMP (verb)
The verb TRUMP has 4 senses:
1. produce a sound as if from a trumpet
2. get the better of
3. play a trump
4. proclaim or announce with or as if with a fanfare
Familiarity information: TRUMP used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A playing card in the suit that has been declared trumps
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
trump; trump card
Context example:
the ace of trumps is a sure winner
Hypernyms ("trump" is a kind of...):
playing card (one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games)
Derivation:
trump (play a trump)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(card games) the suit that has been declared to rank above all other suits for the duration of the hand
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Context example:
a trump can take a trick even when a card of a different suit is led
Hypernyms ("trump" is a kind of...):
suit (playing card in any of four sets of 13 cards in a pack; each set has its own symbol and color)
Domain category:
card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
Hypernyms ("trump" is a kind of...):
brass; brass instrument (a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trump"):
serpent (an obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snake)
Derivation:
trump (produce a sound as if from a trumpet)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it trumps Past simple: trumped
Past participle: trumped
-ing form: trumping
Sense 1
Meaning:
Produce a sound as if from a trumpet
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "trump" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
trump (a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Get the better of
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
best; outdo; outflank; scoop; trump
Context example:
the goal was to best the competition
Hypernyms (to "trump" is one way to...):
beat; beat out; crush; shell; trounce; vanquish (come out better in a competition, race, or conflict)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trump"):
outmaneuver; outmanoeuvre; outsmart (defeat by more skillful maneuvering)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The fighter managed to trump his opponent
Sense 3
Meaning:
Play a trump
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
ruff; trump
Hypernyms (to "trump" is one way to...):
go; move (have a turn; make one's move in a game)
Domain category:
card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trump"):
overtrump (play a trump higher than (one previously played) to the trick)
crossruff (trump alternately in two hands)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
trump (a playing card in the suit that has been declared trumps)
trumping ((card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Proclaim or announce with or as if with a fanfare
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
trump; trump out
Hypernyms (to "trump" is one way to...):
announce; denote (make known; make an announcement)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Context examples
I forgive everyone, and trust we may all meet when the trump shall sound.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“The man's a perfect trump,” declared the squire.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
He laughed loudly at his own sally, but Hans's face was frozen into a sullen ghastliness that nothing less than the trump of doom could have broken.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right—all that falls to them is so much gain—all their geese are swans—all their cards are trumps—toss them which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only move on so much the faster.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
This lad Hawkins is a trump, I perceive.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Well, my love, I consider him a trump, in the fullest sense of that expressive word, but I do wish he was a little younger and a good deal richer.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
What shall we do when we can't eat anymore? asked Laurie, feeling that his trump card had been played when lunch was over.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Brooke was a trump to telegraph right off, and let us know the minute he was better.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
As she spoke, Amy showed the handsome flask which replaced the cheap one, and looked so earnest and humble in her little effort to forget herself that Meg hugged her on the spot, and Jo pronounced her 'a trump', while Beth ran to the window, and picked her finest rose to ornament the stately bottle.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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