trump

¹

[ truhmp ]

noun

1. Cards.
   1. any playing card of a suit that for the time outranks the other suits, such a card being able to take any card of another suit.
   2. Often trumps. (used with a singular verb) the suit itself.
2. Informal: Older Use. a fine, admirable person.

verb (used with object)

1. Cards. to take with a trump.
2. to excel; surpass; outdo.

verb (used without object)

1. Cards.
   1. to play a trump.
   2. to take a trick with a trump.

verb phrase

1. to devise deceitfully or dishonestly, as an accusation; fabricate:

   Try as they might, they were unable to trump up a convincing case against him.

trump

²

[ truhmp ]

noun

1. a trumpet.
2. the sound of a trumpet.

verb (used without object)

1. to blow a trumpet.

Trump

³

[ truhmp ]

noun

1. Donald J(ohn), born 1946, 45th president of the United States 2017–21.
2. Me·la·ni·a [m, uh, -, lah, -nee-, uh] Melanija Knavs, born 1970, U.S. First Lady 2017–21 (wife of Donald J. Trump).

trump

¹

/ trʌmp /

noun

1. Also calledtrump card
   1. any card from the suit chosen as trumps
   2. this suit itself; trumps
2. Also calledtrump card a decisive or advantageous move, resource, action, etc
3. informal.
   a fine or reliable person

verb

1. to play a trump card on (a suit, or a particular card of a suit, that is not trumps)
2. tr to outdo or surpass

trump

²

/ trʌmp /

noun

1. a trumpet or the sound produced by one
2. the last trump
   the final trumpet call that according to the belief of some will awaken and raise the dead on the Day of Judgment

verb

1. intr to produce a sound upon or as if upon the trumpet
2. tr to proclaim or announce with or as if with a fanfare
3. slang.
   intr to expel intestinal gas through the anus

Derived Forms

• ˈtrumpless, adjective

Other Words From

• trumpless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trump¹

First recorded in 1520–30; unexplained variant of triumph

Origin of trump²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun tromp(e), troump, from Old French tromp(e), tronpe; probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German trumpa, Old Norse trumba “trumpet”

Word History and Origins

Origin of trump¹

C16: variant of triumph

Origin of trump²

C13: from Old French trompe , from Old High German trumpa trumpet; compare trombone

Idioms and Phrases

• hold all the aces (trumps)
• turn up trumps

Example Sentences

“This one's pretty easy: federal law — all federal law — trumps all state law,” David S. Cohen, a professor of law at Drexel Kline's School of Law, told Salon.

From Salon

Loyalty to the Communist Party and country, people are told, now trumps the personal ambition that had transformed Chinese society in the last few decades.

From BBC

That view has always been antithetical to the civics purpose of television political debates, but we forgot that long ago, and certainly after candidates figured out how much being telegenic trumps honesty and platform positions.

From Salon

One might expect this to hurt his chances among Republican Jews, yet as historians explained to Salon, partisan loyalties may very well trump self-preservation among a substantial set of Jewish voters.

From Salon

Well, I qualify, 74 now, but Joel Grey, he trumped us all in his 90s.

From Salon

Related Words

• outdo
• overtake