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. (used with a singular verb),  Often trumps 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. trump up,  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. Melania Melanija Knavs, born 1970, U.S. First Lady 2017–21 (wife of Donald J. Trump).

trump

¹

/ trʌmp /

noun

1. Also called: trump card. 

   1. any card from the suit chosen as trumps

   2. this suit itself; trumps

2. Also called: trump 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 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

Other Word Forms

• trumpless 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

A huge factor is trumping their rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who had agreed terms with both Palace and the player hours before the Gunners swooped.

From BBC

One double Grand Slam winner said the series triumph trumps everything he has achieved in his career.

From BBC

A vacuum was created where rumour often trumped fact.

From BBC

In progressive spaces, too, ideological purity often trumps complexity.

From Salon

Instead he dares to lay bare a truth that’s become all too apparent of late: Wealth wins over morality and money trumps accountability.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outdo 
• overtake