trip
UK: trɪp | US: trɪp
n. a journey or excursion, especially for pleasure
n. a stumble or fall caused by catching one's foot on something
v. to stumble or lose balance, often by catching the foot
v. to activate or trigger a mechanism (e.g., "trip a switch")
The word "trip" originates from the Old French triper, meaning "to dance, hop, or stumble." It likely entered Middle English with the sense of light, quick movement, later evolving to describe both intentional journeys (pleasure trips) and accidental stumbles. The dual meanings reflect the physical act of stepping—whether gracefully (dancing) or clumsily (falling). The verb sense of "triggering a mechanism" derives from the idea of a sudden release, akin to a misstep.
We planned a weekend trip to the mountains.
She tripped over the loose carpet and nearly fell.
Be careful not to trip the alarm when entering the building.
His clumsy movements caused him to trip on the stairs.
The sensor will trip if pressure exceeds safe levels.