trap

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
: a device for taking game or other animals
especially : one that holds by springing shut suddenly
2
a
: something by which one is caught or stopped unawares
also : a position or situation from which it is difficult or impossible to escape
b
: a football play in which a defensive player is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and then is blocked from the side while the ballcarrier advances through the spot vacated by the defensive player
c
: the act or an instance of trapping the ball in soccer
d
: a defensive maneuver in basketball in which two defenders converge quickly on the ball handler to steal the ball or force a bad pass
3
a
: a device for hurling clay pigeons into the air
b
c
: a piece of leather or section of interwoven leather straps between the thumb and index finger of a baseball glove that forms an extension of the pocket
4
slang : mouth
5
: a light usually one-horse carriage with springs
6
: any of various devices for preventing passage of something often while allowing other matter to proceed
especially : a device for drains or sewers consisting of a bend or partitioned chamber in which the liquid forms a seal to prevent the passage of sewer gas
7
traps plural : a group of percussion instruments (such as a bass drum, snare drums, and cymbals) used especially in a dance or jazz band
8
: an arrangement of rock strata that favors the accumulation of oil and gas
9
traps plural [speed trap] : a measured stretch of a course over which electronic timing devices measure the speed of a vehicle (such as a racing car or dragster)

trap

2 of 5

verb (1)

trapped; trapping; traps

transitive verb

1
a
: to catch or take in or as if in a trap : entrap
b
: to place in a restricted position : confine
trapped in the burning wreck
2
: to provide or set (a place) with traps
3
a
: stop, hold
these mountains trap rains and fogs generated over the oceanAmer. Guide Series: Calif.
b
: to separate out (something, such as water from steam)
4
a
: to catch (something, such as a baseball) immediately after a bounce
b
: to block out (a defensive football player) by means of a trap
c
: to stop and gain control of (a soccer ball) with a part of the body other than the hands or arms

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in trapping animals (as for furs)
2
: to make a defensive trap in basketball
trapper noun

trap

3 of 5

noun (2)

variants or trap music
: rap music typically featuring heavy bass, synthesized drums, and triplet-based (see triplet sense 3) rhythms
Trap, an Atlanta-born rap subgenre, is characterized by sharp snares and booming bass, as well as … minor-key melodies.Walter Thompson-Hernández
The start of the digital era saw the popularity of trap music taking over the underground rap scene …Kyann-Sian Williams
Just think of how many hip-hop trends, from the street-hardened fatalism and stark beats of trap music to the punchy, triplet flow spawned by Migos' experimentalism, have bubbled up from the underground, and eventually even altered the feel of mainstream pop.Jewly Hight
often used before another noun
Many trap artists utilize the triplet flow …Jay Quan
The series follows young adults on the … rap and trap music scene …Pablo Sandoval
With "Old Town Road," Lil Nas X twanged country tropes over a trap beatChris Kelly

trap

4 of 5

verb (2)

trapped; trapping; traps

transitive verb

: to adorn with or as if with trappings or decorations
The knightly housing's ample fold / Was velvet blue, and trapped with gold.Walter Scott

trap

5 of 5

noun (3)

plural traps
: traprock
often used before another noun
trap soils
trap basalt
Choose the Right Synonym for trap

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

Examples of trap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Shaw said that, according to the WILD-ONe database, 180 species of wildlife had been caught in glue traps and brought to animal hospitals. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Drivers who have been waiting to go through continue to wait and often try to escape this trap by suddenly pulling into the left lane almost hitting another car. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Choose a model that applies to your entity’s needs and use it to avoid the Achilles heel trap of misunderstanding the tools and processes for achieving the endgame of zero trust: protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your sensitive data. Ravi Ithal, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Global temperatures are on the rise as all of that pollution builds up in our atmosphere and traps heat. Justine Calma, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024 Fishermen from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other Northeast states also harvest lobsters with traps from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but about 80% comes to the docks in Maine in a typical years. Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 As a result of the incidents, traps were set and Animal Services surveyed the park and the surrounding area. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Feb. 2024 This dedication to quality and integrity has not only endeared him to a broad audience, including prominent figures like trap superstar Duki, but has also set a high standard for the industry. Javier Hasse, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Baja Beach Fest, originally dedicated exclusively to reggaetón and Latin trap, has transformed into a dynamic celebration that amplifies the convergence of música urbana and regional Mexican music live entertainment. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Ten-year-old Rocco Tano feels trapped in the impoverished rural town of Ortona and lost in the chaos of his family life. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 In a separate strike in eastern Rafah on Saturday, 14 members of the same family were killed, and as many as 10 others were trapped under rubble. D. Parvaz, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Hadestown itself is based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, two lovers whose lives are turned upside down when Eurydice is trapped in the underworld by Hades (Phillip Boykin). Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 Previously, in 2005, a group of orcas got trapped in ice near Rausu, and unfortunately, most of them died. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 There’s a famous scene in Star Wars: A New Hope where Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and company are trapped in a garbage compactor on the Death Star. Avik Roy, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 They’re lured to compounds in countries including Cambodia and Myanmar with offers of high-paying jobs, then trapped, forced to scam, and sometimes beaten and tortured. Zeke Faux, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Emergency officials in Broward County received a call shortly after 3 p.m. that two children were trapped in the sand in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office statement posted on the city's website. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024 While exact data on how many fatal collapses occur as a result of holes dug at the beach is hard to come by, some research shows the number of people killed nationally by sharks is about on par with those killed after being trapped in sand holes dug out at the beach. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English treppe & Anglo-French trape (of Germanic origin); akin to Middle Dutch trappe trap, stair, Old English treppan to tread

Noun (2)

probably after trap or trap house "building or apartment where illicit drugs are sold," from trap entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English trappen, from trappe caparison, from Anglo-French trape, probably from Medieval Latin trapus cloth, by-form of Late Latin drappus

Noun (3)

Swedish trapp, from trappa stair, from Middle Low German trappe; akin to Middle Dutch trappe stair

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

2003, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trap was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near trap

Cite this Entry

“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trap. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trap

1 of 2 noun
1
: a device for catching animals
especially : one that catches by springing shut suddenly
2
: something by which one is caught unawares
3
a
: a device for hurling clay pigeons into the air
b
4
: a light usually one-horse carriage with springs
5
: any of various devices for preventing passage of one thing often while allowing something else to proceed
especially : a device for drains or sewers consisting of a bend or chamber in which the liquid forms a seal to prevent the passage of sewer gas
6
plural : a group of percussion instruments (as in a dance band)

trap

2 of 2 verb
trapped; trapping
1
a
: to catch in or as if in a trap
trap a bird
b
: to place in a restricted position : confine
was almost trapped in the burning building
2
: to provide or set with a trap
3
: to engage in trapping animals (as for fur)
trapper noun

More from Merriam-Webster on trap

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