trump

Meaning

Noun

1. The suit, in a game of cards, that outranks all others.
2. A playing card of that suit.
3. Something that gives one an advantage, especially one held in reserve.
4. (colloquial) An excellent person; a fine fellow, a good egg.
5. An old card game, almost identical to whist; the game of ruff.
6. A card of the major arcana of the tarot.

Verb

1. To play on (a card of another suit) with a trump.
2. To play a trump, or to take a trick with a trump.
3. To get the better of, or finesse, a competitor.
4. To impose unfairly; to palm off.
5. To supersede.
6. To outweigh; be stronger, greater, bigger than or in other way superior to.

Verb

1. To blow a trumpet.
2. (slang) To flatulate.

Synonyms

trumpet

🎺

trump card

ruff

outdo

horn

best

blare

cornet

last resort

lick

outflank

scoop

Jew’s harp

mouth harp

of trumps

trump out

take precedence

machinate

brick

outfight

ace

play the trump card

blast

scheme

Jew’s trump

top

🔝

trounce

asset

trumps

ultimate

vanquish

whomp

wile

blare out

blat out

French horn

bargaining chip

get the best

bugle

cabal

concoct

bargaining counter

cover

final

broadcast

jew’s harp

strong suit

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɹʌmp/

Etymology

Cognate with German: Trumpf

Inherited from Middle English: trumpe

Cognate with Old High German: trumpa

Cognate with Middle Dutch: tromme

Cognate with Middle Low German: trumme

In summary

Possibly from French triomphe (“triumph”) or Old French triumphe. If so, it is a doublet of triumph and thriambus. Compare German Trumpf.