trump
/trʌmp/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈʌmp] /trʌmp/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈʌmp] /ˈtrəmp How to pronounce trump (audio)/ (ame, mw)
trump — noun
- trumpsingular
- trumpsplural
1. the one resource or advantage that finally helps someone win or succeed.
the one resource or advantage that finally helps someone win or succeed.
Low prices were the small cafe's main trump against bigger chains.
figurative: trump against rivals
For Apinya, local knowledge was the trump in a close election.
The team had speed, but calm leadership was the real trump.
A flexible schedule became Nora's trump when other firms matched the pay.
- disadvantage
a weakness that makes success harder
用法筆記
Usually figurative. In this sense, trump names the one thing that gives someone a decisive edge, unlike noun sense 2, which is a literal card from a game.
常見錯誤
2. one card from the special suit that can beat the other suits in a card game.
one card from the special suit that can beat the other suits in a card game.
Gabriel saved his highest trump for the final trick of the round.
save a trump for later
When Nora led hearts, Rodrigo used a small trump to win.
The last trump in Lan's hand beat every card on the table.
Christopher smiled when the dealer turned over a trump instead of clubs.
- winning card
a plain explanation rather than a technical game term
用法筆記
Used in card games for a single powerful card. Distinguish it from noun sense 3, which names the whole suit, not one card.
3. the suit that has been given more power than the other suits for one hand or gam
the suit that has been given more power than the other suits for one hand or game.
Spades were trump, so every spade beat diamonds in that hand.
be trump in a hand
The players forgot that hearts were trump after the second deal.
Once clubs became trump, Mei changed the way she played.
Ask the dealer which suit is trump before you choose a card.
- trump suit
the fuller and more explicit card-game term
用法筆記
This sense names the whole suit for the hand. It often appears after be or become: 'spades are trump', 'hearts became trump'.
4. a bridge contract or situation where no suit outranks the others.
a bridge contract or situation where no suit outranks the others.
Femi bid no trump because his hand was balanced and strong.
bid no trump in bridge
In no trump, Tara could not rely on spades to save her.
The pair scored better after switching from hearts to no trump.
Our teacher explained why long side suits matter in no trump.
用法筆記
Mainly a bridge term. Speakers often say 'no trump' after verbs like bid, play, or switch to.
5. gas released from the body through the bottom.
gas released from the body through the bottom.
The children burst out laughing after one loud trump in class.
informal British noun
A sleepy dog gave a small trump and startled the baby.
Renata blamed the strange smell on a trump from the baby.
One sudden trump made everyone at the table stop talking.
- fart
far more common in modern English and used in many varieties
用法筆記
This is a playful or childish British use. In everyday neutral English, most speakers would say fart instead.
trump — verb
- trumppresent simple I / you / we / they
- trumps3rd person singular
- trumping-ing form
- trumpedpast simple
1. to defeat someone or something by offering, showing, or doing something stronger
to defeat someone or something by offering, showing, or doing something stronger.
The rival store trumped our discount with free home delivery.
trump something with a better offer
Gabriel hoped his final slide would trump the earlier mistakes.
Cheap tickets alone could not trump the stadium's poor location.
Femi's apology trumped the online rumors and calmed the staff.
- lose to
to be beaten by a stronger offer or performance
文法句型
trump + noun phrase
trump + noun phrase + with + better thing
用法筆記
Often used when one offer, argument, or advantage clearly beats another. It usually takes a direct object naming the thing that gets beaten.
常見錯誤
2. to win a trick or beat another card by playing a card from the trump suit.
to win a trick or beat another card by playing a card from the trump suit.
Rodrigo trumped Gabriel's ace with the last spade in his hand.
trump a card with a trump suit card
After Tara led diamonds, Christopher trumped and took the trick.
intransitive: trump and take the trick
Lan could not follow clubs, so she trumped the winning heart.
The beginner forgot he could trump that card and lost the round.
- ruff
a technical card-game verb, especially in bridge
文法句型
trump + card
trump + and + take the trick
用法筆記
Used in trick-taking card games. It can be transitive with a card as the object, or intransitive when the object is understood from the play.
3. to let gas out through the bottom; to fart.
to let gas out through the bottom; to fart.
The baby trumped loudly during the diaper change and then slept.
informal British verb
Everyone laughed when the puppy trumped beside the warm heater.
Rodrigo tried not to trump in the quiet waiting room.
After the bean soup, Matthew trumped and blamed the dog.
- fart
the normal modern verb across many varieties of English
文法句型
trump + adverb
trump + in + place
用法筆記
A playful British verb, often used with children or pets. In most neutral contexts, speakers would choose fart instead.