trip I. verb (tripped; tripping) 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 3b transitive 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to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering b. to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering 6.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> II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing 2. a. voyage, journey b. a single round or tour on a business errand 3. error, misstep 4. a quick light step 5. a faltering step caused by stumbling 6. a. the action of tripping mechanically b. a device for tripping a mechanism (as a catch or detent) 7. a. an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (as LSD) b. an exciting or unusual experience <the party was a trip> 8. absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind <a guilt trip> <on a nostalgia trip> 9. scene, lifestyle

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