trip
trip
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "trip" is:
/tɹɪp/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
tɹ - This is a single sound, combining a voiceless alveolar stop /t/ and a voiceless alveolar trill /ɹ/. Imagine saying "t" but vibrating your tongue.
ɪ - This is a near-close near-front unrounded vowel sound, like the "i" in "bit".
p - This is a voiceless bilabial stop, the "p" sound.
Word Form Variations
The word "trip" has several word form variations depending on its function in the sentence:
Singular:
trip (noun): This is the base form used to refer to a single journey or outing.
Plural:
trips (noun): This refers to multiple journeys or outings.
Verb:
trip (present tense): This describes the action of stumbling or losing footing.
tripped (past tense): This indicates the action of stumbling happened in the past.
tripping (present participle): This describes the ongoing action of losing balance or refers to someone who stumbles frequently.
tripped (past participle): This can be used with helping verbs to form perfect tenses (e.g., I have tripped) or in passive voice constructions (e.g., The wire was tripped).
Less common:
trippingly (adverb): This is a rarely used adverb meaning "in a light and nimble way."
There are also some idiomatic phrases that use "trip" but these aren't considered true variations of the word itself:
acid trip: refers to the experience of taking LSD.
bad trip: an unpleasant psychedelic experience.
head trip: a confusing or psychologically challenging experience.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A journey or excursion, typically for pleasure or leisure. (synonyms: journey, outing, excursion, jaunt; antonyms: staycation, in-house activity)
Example: We're planning a weekend trip to the mountains.
Verb:
Definition (1): To stumble or lose your footing while walking or running, potentially causing you to fall. (synonyms: stumble, falter, misstep; antonyms: maintain balance, stay upright)
Example: She tripped on the uneven sidewalk and scraped her knee.
Definition (2): (informal) To cause someone to hallucinate or experience an altered state of consciousness, typically through psychedelic drugs. (synonyms: cause to hallucinate)
Example: The doctor warned him about the potential for the medication to trip him out. (Note: This usage is less common and considered informal.)
Less Common:
Adverb (rare): Trippingly - In a light and nimble way. (synonyms: lightly, nimbly; antonyms: clumsily, awkwardly)
Example (rare): The ballerina moved trippingly across the stage. (This adverb form is rarely used in modern English.)
Examples of Use
Noun (Journey):
Book: "Bilbo Baggins set out on a very long journey, or 'trip' as hobbits called it, to the Lonely Mountain." (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien)
Newspaper: "The New York Times announced a special travel section with exciting weekend trip ideas." (The New York Times, travel section)
Online Publication: "Budget Travel website offers tips for planning a cheap and cheerful European trip." (Budget Travel website)
Entertainment (Movie): "The movie 'Thelma and Louise' follows two friends on a road trip that takes an unexpected turn." (Thelma and Louise, movie)
Public Discourse: "I'm saving up for a trip to visit my family in another state." (common conversation)
Verb (Stumble):
Book: "Harry tripped over a gnarled root and landed face-first in the mud." (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling)
Newspaper: "The runner tripped during the marathon but managed to get back up and finish the race." (Sports section, newspaper)
Online Publication: "A funny cat video compilation shows felines tripping over their own paws." (Online video platform)
Entertainment (TV Show): "In a scene from 'I Love Lucy,' Lucy trips over a rug and falls through a conveyor belt." (I Love Lucy, TV Show)
Public Discourse: "Be careful on the stairs, don't want you to trip and fall." (common safety advice)
Verb (Informal - Cause to Hallucinate):
(Note: This usage is less common and considered informal)
Entertainment (Song): "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles is rumored to be about a drug-induced trip (LSD). (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, The Beatles)
Public Discourse (Informal): "He took too many pills and ended up tripping for hours." (slang conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Trip
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - Saint Augustine (Travel)
"A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles." - Tim Cahill (Travel)
"People don't take trips, trips take people." - John Steinbeck (Travel)
"It is not down in any map; true places never are." - Ella Katharine White (Travel)
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller (Adventure)
"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." - Aldous Huxley (Cultural Exchange)
"Investment in travel is an investment in yourself." - Matthew Karsten (Self-Improvement)
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - Mark Twain (Encouragement)
"Once a year, go someplace you've never been before." - Dalai Lama (New Experiences)
"Not all those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien (Exploration)
Etymology
The word "trip" originally comes from an old French word "triper" which means "to hop or dance around." It likely came from an even older Germanic language where words like "trippen" existed, also meaning "to hop" or "to tread lightly."
Think about how dancers move lightly on their feet, taking small steps and hops. That's the original idea behind "trip."
The first time we see "trip" used in English was around the 14th century, and it kept that meaning of moving lightly or skipping along. Over time, it gained the extra meaning of stumbling or losing your footing, which makes sense because sometimes when you hop or skip a bit too much, you might trip up!
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Trip
Travel:
Hit the road: To begin a journey. (e.g., "We're hitting the road early tomorrow morning.")
Pack light: To travel with minimal belongings. (e.g., "It's just a weekend trip, so I'm packing light.")
Off the beaten path: To travel to a less-visited or unconventional destination. (e.g., "Instead of tourist traps, we want to go off the beaten path and explore local villages.")
Take a trip down memory lane: To reminisce about the past. (e.g., "Looking at old photos took us on a trip down memory lane.")
The travel bug: A strong desire to travel and explore new places. (e.g., "After her semester abroad, she caught the travel bug and can't wait to see more of the world.")
Other:
Trip the light fantastic: To dance skillfully and lightly. (This phrase is a bit old-fashioned but still pops up occasionally.)
Flip your trip: To become very angry or upset (informal). (e.g., "He totally flipped his trip when he found out his flight was cancelled.")
A power trip: An excessive feeling of control or dominance over others. (e.g., "The boss was on a power trip, micromanaging everyone.")
Acid trip/Bad trip: Experiences of hallucinations or altered state of consciousness, typically caused by drugs like LSD (informal).
Head trip: A confusing or psychologically challenging experience. (e.g., "That movie was a real head trip.")
Less Common:
On a trip: Under the influence of drugs or experiencing hallucinations (informal).
Send someone on a trip: To cause someone to hallucinate or experience an altered state of consciousness (informal).
Posts Related to Trip
Source Information
Definition of trip from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.