1. an altered state of consciousness characterized by decreased awareness of and responsiveness to stimuli and an apparent loss of voluntary power.

2. a state brought about by hypnotic induction or autosuggestion and characterized by susceptibility to suggestion. Hypnotized persons may report a light trance, in which they might accept suggestions that, for example, they cannot open their eyes or they lack sensation in a limb, or a medium trance, in which they may experience posthypnotic amnesia and posthypnotic suggestion. A deep trance might be characterized by an inability to open the eyes without affecting the trance, complete somnambulism, positive and negative posthypnotic hallucinations, and hyperesthesia (excessive sensitivity). The reality of such trance states has been the subject of much debate. Also called hypnotic trance.