light trap

noun

1

: a device that allows movement of a sliding part or passage of a person (as into a darkroom) but excludes light

2

: a device for collecting or destroying insects that consists of a bright light in association with a trapping or killing medium

Examples of light trap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gilbert adds that insect light traps can also help with flies, but they should be placed farther away from the porch. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 June 2026

Sticky light traps will also work well indoors. — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 5 June 2026

Indoors, opt for light traps, sticky traps, and bug catchers that can capture those who have broken in. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026

Charlotte Wright of the Wellcome Sanger Institute collects a moth at a light trap on an Alpine trail above Malles Venosta, Italy. — Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for light trap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

light trap

noun

: a device for collecting or destroying insects by attracting them to a light and trapping or killing them