entrap

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verb en·trap \in-ˈtrap, en-\

Definition of entrap

transitive verb
1 : to catch in or as if in a trap
2 : to lure into a compromising statement or act

See entrap defined for English-language learners

See entrap defined for kids

Examples of entrap in a Sentence

We used the net to entrap a school of fish.
The air bubbles were entrapped in ice.
She felt that she was entrapped in an unhappy marriage.

Recent Examples of entrap from the Web

The lasso features prominently in the director Patty Jenkins’s film, as both a weapon and a tactic: In it, Diana uses the glimmering device repeatedly to whip, to entrap, to win.

— rosa inocencio smith, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic Daily: Au Revoir, Paris", 1 June 2017
Also, what about the huge amounts of plastic litter entrapped by the floating screens?

— david leveille, USA TODAY, "Two proposals to clean up our oceans of garbage: Will either work?", 30 May 2017
Whenever someone uses a drug, a tiny bit of the illicit chemical will become entrapped in keratin — a protein that is the main component of hair.

— aaron rowe, WIRED, "Can a Hair Sample Reveal How Much Weed You Smoke?", 18 July 2007

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'entrap'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of entrap

Middle French entraper, from en- + trape trap

First Known Use: 1534

Synonym Discussion of entrap

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing. catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding. caught the dog as it ran by capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty. capture an enemy stronghold trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing. trap animals snared butterflies with a net entrap and ensnare more often are figurative. entrapped the witness with a trick question a sting operation that ensnared burglars bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey. bagged a brace of pheasants

ENTRAP Defined for English Language Learners

entrap

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verb

Definition of entrap for English Language Learners

: to catch (someone or something) in a trap or in something like a trap

ENTRAP Defined for Kids

entrap

play

verb en·trap \in-ˈtrap\

Definition of entrap for Students

entrapped

;

entrapping

: to catch in or as if in a trap

Law Dictionary

entrap

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transitive verb en·trap \in-ˈtrap\

Legal Definition of entrap

entrapped

entrapping

: to cause (a person) to commit a crime by means of undue persuasion, encouragement, or fraud in order to later prosecute police entrap him into violating the literal terms of a criminal statute — W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.