Main Entry: ¹trip

Pronunciation: \ˈtrip\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): tripped; trip·ping

Etymology: Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps b : to walk with light quick steps
2 : to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
3 : to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
4 : to stumble in articulation when speaking
5 : to make a journey
6 a : to actuate a mechanism b : to become operative
7 a : to get high on a psychedelic drug (as LSD) : turn on —often used with out b slang : freak 3btransitive verb 1 a : to cause to stumble —often used with up b : to cause to fail : obstruct —often used with up
2 : to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder; also : expose —usually used with up
3 archaic : to perform (as a dance) lightly or nimbly
4 : to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5 a : to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering b : to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6 : to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent <trip the fire alarm>

— trip the light fantastic : dance