trump
UK: trʌmp | US: trʌmp
n. 1. A playing card of the suit ranked above others, temporarily determining its superiority in a game.
n. 2. (Informal) A helpful or admirable person (often phrased as "a trump").
vt. 1. To surpass or outdo someone, especially unexpectedly.
vt. 2. To play a trump card in a game.
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The word "trump" originates from the Old French trompe (meaning "trumpet"), which metaphorically extended to the idea of "triumph" or "superiority" in card games (mid-16th century). The verb form evolved from the noun, reflecting the act of "overcoming" or "winning decisively." Its Germanic roots (e.g., trumba for "trumpet") tie to the sound of victory fanfares.
He played his trump card to win the final trick.
Her intelligence trumps all her competitors in the debate.
In this game, hearts are the trump suit.
(Informal) "John’s always been a real trump in tough situations."
The new evidence trumped the prosecution’s argument.