trip

¹

[ trip ]

noun

1. a journey or voyage:

   to win a trip to Paris.

   Synonyms: junket, jaunt, tour, excursion

2. a journey, voyage, or run made by a boat, train, bus, or the like, between two points:

   It's a short trip from Baltimore to Philadelphia.

3. round trip ( defs 1, 2 ).
4. a single journey or course of travel taken as part of one's duty, work, etc.:

   his daily trip to the bank.

5. a stumble; misstep.
6. a sudden impeding or catching of a person's foot so as to throw the person down, especially in wrestling.
7. a slip, mistake, error, or blunder.

   Synonyms: oversight, lapse

8. an error or lapse in conduct or etiquette.
9. a light, nimble step or movement of the feet.
10. Machinery.
    1. a projecting object mounted on a moving part for striking a control lever to stop, reverse, or otherwise control the actions of some machine, as a milling machine or printing press.
    2. a sudden release or start.
11. a catch of fish taken by a fishing vessel in a single voyage.
12. Slang.
    1. an instance or period of being under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug, especially LSD.
    2. the euphoria, illusions, etc., experienced during such a period.
    3. any stimulating or exciting experience:

       The class reunion was a real trip.

    4. any intense interest or preoccupation:

       She's been on a nostalgia trip all week.

    5. a period of time, experience, or lifestyle:

       Those early years in college were a bad trip.

verb (used without object)

, tripped, trip·ping.

1. to stumble:

   to trip over a child's toy.

2. to make a slip, error, or mistake, as in conversation or conduct.

   Synonyms: err, blunder, bungle

3. to step lightly or nimbly; skip; dance.
4. to go with a light, quick step or tread:

   She tripped gaily across the room.

5. to make a journey or excursion.
6. to tip or tilt.
7. Horology. (of a tooth on an escape wheel) to slide past the face of the pallet by which it is supposed to be locked and strike the pallet in such a way as to move the balance or pendulum improperly.
8. Slang. to be under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug, especially LSD (often followed by out ):

   He tripped out on peyote.

verb (used with object)

, tripped, trip·ping.

1. to cause to stumble (often followed by up ):

   The rug tripped him up.

2. to cause to fail; hinder, obstruct, or overthrow.
3. to cause to make a slip or error (often followed by up ):

   to trip up a witness by skillful questioning.

4. to catch in a slip or error.
5. to tip or tilt.
6. Nautical.
   1. to break out (an anchor) by turning over or lifting from the bottom by a line tripping line attached to the anchor's crown.
   2. to tip or turn (a yard) from a horizontal to a vertical position.
   3. to lift (an upper mast) before lowering.
7. to operate, start, or set free (a mechanism, weight, etc.) by suddenly releasing a catch, clutch, or the like.
8. Machinery. to release or operate suddenly (a catch, clutch, etc.).
9. wedge ( def 17 ).
10. to tread or dance lightly upon (the ground, floor, etc.).
11. Archaic. to perform with a light or tripping step, as a dance.

trip

²

[ trip ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. a group of animals, as sheep, goats, or fowl; flock.

trip

/ trɪp /

noun

1. an outward and return journey, often for a specific purpose
2. any tour, journey, or voyage
3. a false step; stumble
4. any slip or blunder
5. a light step or tread
6. a manoeuvre or device to cause someone to trip
7. Also calledtripper
   1. any catch on a mechanism that acts as a switch
   2. ( as modifier )

      trip button

8. a surge in the conditions of a chemical or other automatic process resulting in an instability
9. informal.
   a hallucinogenic drug experience
10. informal.
    any stimulating, profound, etc, experience

verb

1. often foll byup, or when intr, by on or over to stumble or cause to stumble
2. to make or cause to make a mistake or blunder
3. troften foll byup to trap or catch in a mistake
4. intr to go on a short tour or journey
5. intr to move or tread lightly
6. informal.
   intr to experience the effects of LSD or any other hallucinogenic drug
7. tr
   1. to activate (a mechanical trip)
   2. to switch electric power off by moving the switch armature to disconnect the supply

Derived Forms

• ˈtrippingly, adverb

Other Words From

• un·tripped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trip¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1960–65 trip ¹fordef 12; Middle English trippen “to step lightly,” from Old French trip(p)er, from Middle Dutch; compare early Dutch trippen, Dutch trippelen (frequentative with -el ), akin to Old English treppan “to tread”

Origin of trip²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; apparently special use of trip ¹ in the sense of “a group moving together,” hence “gang, flock”

Word History and Origins

Origin of trip¹

C14: from Old French triper to tread, of Germanic origin; related to Low German trippen to stamp, Middle Dutch trippen to walk trippingly, trepelen to trample

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lay a trip on, Slang. to inflict one's preoccupations or obsessions on (another person):

   Mother's been trying to lay a guilt trip on me about leaving home.

2. trip the light fantastic, Facetious. to go dancing.

More idioms and phrases containing trip

• bad trip
• ego trip
• round trip

Synonym Study

Trip, expedition, journey, pilgrimage, voyage are terms for a course of travel made to a particular place, usually for some specific purpose. Trip is the general word, indicating going any distance and returning, by walking or any means of locomotion, for either business or pleasure, and in either a hurried or a leisurely manner: a trip to Europe; a vacation trip; a bus trip. An expedition, made often by an organized company, is designed to accomplish a specific purpose: an archaeological expedition. Journey indicates a trip of considerable length, wholly or mainly by land, for business or pleasure or other reasons, and is now applied to travel that is more leisurely or more fatiguing than a trip; a return is not necessarily indicated: the long journey to Tibet. A pilgrimage is made as to a shrine, from motives of piety or veneration: a pilgrimage to Lourdes. A voyage is travel by water or air, usually for a long distance and for business or pleasure; if by water, leisure is indicated: a voyage around the world.

Example Sentences

The court in Bangkok found Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, guilty of putting poison in a wealthy friend's food and drink while they were on a trip last year.

From BBC

It’s happening, with a trip to the Southern Section Division I final on the line.

From Los Angeles Times

One difficulty stopping the boats is that it is legal to carry inflatables across Europe; they might be used for a fishing trip.

From BBC

Any trip to the supermarket reminds us that prices have risen sharply in recent years.

From BBC

Consider the first visit an inspirational scouting trip.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• skip
• slide
• slip
• slip on
• stumble
• topple
• tumble