mousetrap

noun

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mouse·trap | \ ˈmau̇s-ˌtrap

Definition of mousetrap

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a trap for mice

2 : a stratagem that lures one to defeat or destruction

3 : trap sense 2b

mousetrap

verb

mousetrapped; mousetrapping; mousetraps

Definition of mousetrap (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to snare in or as if in a mousetrap

Examples of mousetrap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun What Zeller has done has built a mousetrap for Anthony and for the audience: a portrait of encroaching dementia as seen from the point of view of the demented. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Mar. 2021 There are plenty more ways beyond the traditional mousetrap to get rid of mice infesting your house. — Adam Hadhazy, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2021 There is a sinking feeling among some that this building of a better mousetrap might not be grandly and immediately accepted by the world at large. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2021 Putting aside snark for a moment, the A’s have an owner who doesn’t care if his team wins and has a mousetrap in his wallet, the Giants have an owner who helps finance the coup of democracy, the Raiders have an owner who abducted his team. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 12 Dec. 2020 Bomb technicians found bomb components strewn around the scene: pieces of a mousetrap, ACDelco brand AA batteries and pieces of galvanized pipe. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2020 By the way, the best baits for mousetraps are peanut butter, soft gummy candy, wet dog food, and cheese, of course. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2020 Sometimes companies get lucky, are smart about enlisting allies, or make a better mousetrap. — Shira Ovide, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2020 Not surprisingly, the mousetraps fire in rapid succession and trigger the traps next to them. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, 10 Apr. 2020

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