v.
(trips, tripping, tripped)
- catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall.
-
(trip up)
make a mistake.
▸
(trip someone up)
detect or expose someone in a mistake or inconsistency.
- walk, run, or dance with quick light steps.
▸(of words) flow lightly and easily:
a name which trips off the tongue.
- activate (a mechanism), especially by contact with a switch.
▸(of part of an electric circuit) disconnect automatically as a safety measure.
- Nautical release and raise (an anchor) from the seabed by means of a cable.
▸turn (a yard or other object) from a horizontal to a vertical position for lowering.
- informal experience hallucinations induced by taking a psychedelic drug, especially LSD.
- go on a short journey.
n.
- a journey or excursion, especially for pleasure.
- an instance of tripping.
- informal a hallucinatory experience caused by taking a psychedelic drug.
▸a self-indulgent attitude or activity:
a power trip.
- a device that trips a mechanism, circuit, etc.
- archaic a light, lively movement of a person's feet.
Phrase
- trip the light fantastic
humorous dance.
[from ‘Trip it as you go On the light fantastic toe’ (Milton's L'Allegro).]
Etymology
ME: from OFr. triper, from MDu. trippen ‘to skip, hop’.