What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Magic vs Trick - What's the difference?

magic | trick |

In transitive terms the difference between magic and trick

is that magic is to produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic while trick is to fool; to cause to believe something untrue; to deceive.

As a proper noun Magic

is the decrypted Japanese messages produced by US cryptographers in and prior to World War II.

magic

English

Alternative forms

* magick (qualifier) Used as a deliberate archaism; used for supernatural magic, as distinguished from stage magic. * magicke (obsolete) * magique (obsolete)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The use of rituals or actions, especially based on supernatural or occult knowledge, to manipulate or obtain information about the natural world, especially when seen as falling outside the realm of religion; also the forces allegedly drawn on for such practices.
  • *c. 1489 , (William Caxton), Foure Sonnes of Aymon :
  • *:And whan he shall be arrayed as I telle you / lete hym thenne doo his incantacyons & his magyke as he wyll […].
  • *1781 , (Edward Gibbon), Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , II.23:
  • *:The arts of magic and divination were strictly prohibited.
  • *1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 23:
  • *:Conversions to the new religion […] have frequently been assisted by the view of converts that they are acquiring not just a means of otherworldly salvation, but a new and more powerful magic .
  • A specific ritual or procedure associated with supernatural magic or with mysticism; a spell.
  • Something producing remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement.}}
  • A conjuring trick or illusion performed to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.
  • Synonyms

    * (allegedly supernatural method to dominate natural forces) dwimmer, thaumaturgy, conjuring, sorcery, witchcraft, dweomercraft/dwimmercraft * (illusion performed to give the appearance of magic or the supernatural) sleight of hand, illusionism, legerdemain, dwimmer

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.
  • a magic''' wand; a '''magic dragon
  • Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic; wonderful, amazing.
  • a magic moment
  • Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.
  • a magic''' show; a '''magic trick
  • (colloquial) Great; excellent.
  • — I cleaned up the flat while you were out. — Really? Magic !
  • (physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.
  • Synonyms

    * *

    Verb

    (magick)
  • To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.
  • Synonyms

    * (produce magically) conjure up

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Anagrams

    *

    trick

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (slang) Stylish or cool.
  • Wow, your new sportscar is so trick .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something designed to fool or swindle.
  • A single piece (or business) of a magician's (or any variety entertainer's) act.
  • An effective, clever or quick way of doing something.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}
  • Mischievous or annoying behavior; a prank.
  • the tricks of boys
    (Prior)
  • (dated) A particular habit or manner; a peculiarity; a trait.
  • a trick''' of drumming with the fingers; a '''trick of frowning
  • * William Shakespeare, King Lear act IV, scene VI:
  • The trick of that voice I do well remember.
  • * William Shakespeare,King John Act I, scene I
  • He hath a trick of Cœur de Lion's face.
  • A knot, braid, or plait of hair.
  • (Ben Jonson)
  • (card games) A sequence in which each player plays a card and a winning play is determined.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • On one nice trick depends the general fate.
  • (slang) An act of prostitution. Generally used with turn .
  • (slang) A customer to a prostitute.
  • An entertaining difficult physical action.
  • A daily period of work, especially in shift-based jobs.
  • * 1885 , Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen, The Conductor and Brakeman , page 496:
  • On third trick from 12 m. to 8 am, we have W. A. White, formerly operator at Wallula, who thus far has given general satisfaction.
  • * 1899 , New York (State), Bureau of Statistics, Deptartment of Labor, Annual Report :
  • Woodside Junction—On 8 hour basis, first trick' $60, second '''trick''' $60, third ' trick $50.
  • * 1949 , Labor arbitration reports , page 738:
  • The Union contends that Fifer was entitled to promotion to the position of Group Leader on the third trick in the Core Room Department.
  • (nautical) A sailor's spell of work at the helm, usually two hours long.
  • A toy; a trifle; a plaything.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * (something designed to trick) artifice, con, gambit, ploy, rip-off, See also * (magic trick) illusion, magic trick, sleight of hand * (customer to a prostitute) john, see also * (entertaining difficult physical action) * (daily period of work) shift

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fool; to cause to believe something untrue; to deceive.
  • You tried to trick me when you said that house was underpriced.
  • (heraldry) To draw (as opposed to blazon - to describe in words).
  • * 1600 , Hamlet , , by Shakespeare
  • The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, / Black as his purpose, did the night resemble / When he lay couched in the ominous horse, / Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd / With heraldry more dismal; head to foot / Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd / With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons
  • * Ben Jonson
  • They forget that they are in the statutes: there they are tricked , they and their pedigrees.
  • To dress; to decorate; to adorn fantastically; often followed by up'', ''off'', or ''out .
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Trick her off in air.
  • * John Locke
  • Tricking up their children in fine clothes.
  • * Macaulay
  • They are simple, but majestic, records of the feelings of the poet; as little tricked out for the public eye as his diary would have been.

    Synonyms

    * (to fool) con, dupe, fool, gull, have, hoodwink, pull the wool over someone's eyes, rip off * (to trick out) mod * See also

    Derived terms

    * bag of tricks * cheap trick * dirty trick * do the trick * hat trick * how's tricks? * Jedi mind trick * magic trick * politricks * tricker * trickery * trickiness * tricknology * trick out * trick or treat * trick point * trick shot * trickster * tricky * turn a trick, turn tricks