Trap

Definition

"Trap" primarily refers to a device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals, typically by allowing entry but not exit or by catching hold of a part of the body. It also can mean a situation that deceives or ensnares someone.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

IPA Pronunciation:

• American English: /træp/
• British English: /træp/

Respelling:

• American: trap
• British: trap

Etymology

The term "trap" derives from the Old English "treppan" (to tread or step), which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic *trap-, a root forming words associated with stepping. The sense of a device for catching animals dates from the late Old English period.

Derivatives

1. Trapper (noun)
2. Traplike (adjective)
3. Trapping (noun)
4. Entrap (verb)
5. Trapped (adjective)

Synonyms

1. Snare
2. Ambush
3. Decoy

Antonyms

• Release
• Liberate
• Free

Usage

• As a noun: "He set a trap for rabbits."
• As a verb: "They were trapped in the cave for days."

Related Terms

• Entrapment: The act of causing someone to commit an offense they would otherwise have been unlikely to commit.
• Bait: Something used to lure animals or fish into a trap.
• Capture: To take into one's possession or control by force.

Detailed Definition

As a Noun

• A device for catching and holding animals, typically by allowing entry but preventing escape: "He used a mousetrap to catch the mice in his house."
• A situation that is difficult or impossible to escape from: "The contract turned out to be a financial trap."
• A device for hurling objects, such as a light two-wheeled carriage in horse racing: "They rode in a horse-drawn trap to the fair."
• A trick or arrangement designed to catch someone in a more general sense: "The question was a trap to catch her off guard."

As a Verb

• To catch an animal in a trap: "They trapped several foxes in the forest."
• To prevent someone from escaping from a place: "The snowstorm trapped them in the cabin."
• To trick or deceive someone, leading them into a mistake or undesirable situation: "He felt he was trapped into signing the contract."