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| trap [ trap ] |
noun (plural traps) |
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| Definition: |
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1. something designed to catch animals: a device designed to catch an animal and kill it or prevent it from escaping, e.g. a concealed pit or a mechanical device that springs shut
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2. plan to trick somebody: an ambush, scheme, or trick intended to catch somebody unaware and put the person at a disadvantage or in somebody else's power
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3. confining situation: a situation from which it is difficult to escape and in which somebody feels confined, restricted, or in somebody else's power
  wanted to avoid the trap of being typecast in the same roles
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4. buildings
Same as trapdoor
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5. anatomy
(
informal
)
Same as mouthn (sense 1)
If the media ask questions, keep your trap shut.
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6. construction section of drainpipe blocking gas: a curved section of a drainpipe that holds a quantity of water to act as a barrier to prevent sewer gas from rising up the pipe
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7. construction device preventing passage of gas: a device designed to prevent gas, vapor, or other substances passing through or escaping from something
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8. sports device used in trapshooting: a device that throws clay pigeons into the air for trapshooting
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9. golf golfing hazard: a hazard, especially a bunker, on a golf course
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10. sports starting stall for greyhound: one of the set of stalls from which greyhounds are released at the start of a race
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11. vehicles carriage: a light horse-drawn carriage with two wheels
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plural noun traps |
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| Definition: |
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1. U.S. motor sports length of racetrack: a measured stretch of track over which electronic timers register the speeds of racing vehicles, especially in drag racing
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2. music percussion instruments: a set of percussion instruments, especially the drum set used in a dance orchestra or jazz band
(
informal
)
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verb (past and past participle trapped, present participle trap·ping, 3rd person present singular traps) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb catch something in trap: to catch an animal in a trap so that it is killed or unable to escape
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2. intransitive verb set traps for animals: to set traps for animals, or make a living by catching animals in traps
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3. transitive verb hold something in tight grip: to catch or hold something in a tight grip or narrow space so that it cannot be moved or is painfully squeezed
I trapped my finger in the door.
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4. transitive verb place somebody in confining situation: to put somebody in a situation from which it is difficult or impossible to escape
They were trapped inside the burning building.
felt trapped in a dead-end job
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5. transitive verb take somebody by surprise: to put somebody at a disadvantage by means of an ambush, surprise, clever plan, or trick
She was trapped into admitting the truth.
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6. transitive verb soccer control ball: to bring a moving ball quickly under control using a part of the body
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7. transitive verb crime catch offender: to identify or catch an offender by means of a speed trap or a security device
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8. transitive verb prevent air from escaping: to prevent air, gas, heat, or a fluid from escaping
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9. transitive verb construction equip drainpipe with trap: to put a trap into a drainpipe
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| [ Old English træppe (in coltetræppe, plant name), treppe "trap, snare" < Germanic] |
