trap

1 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters a bear trap Synonyms of trap ambush, net, snare, web Words Related to trap enmeshment, entanglement, entrapment, envelopment; booby trap, catch, hazard, land mine, pitfall, snag; artifice, cheat, cheating, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, ploy, ruse, subterfuge, trick

2 a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait an overland route to the Far East that was once notorious for the many robbers who laid traps for unsuspecting wayfarers Synonyms of trap ambuscade, ambushment, surprise (also surpize), ambushWords Related to trap assault, attack, charge, sally; capture, entrapment, mousetrap, snare; hunting, stalking

3 something that catches and holds the promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere Synonyms of trap entanglement, mesh(es), morass, net, noose, quagmire, quicksand, snare, tanglement, toil(s), webWords Related to trap knot, snarl, tangle; cat's cradle, labyrinth, maze; cobweb, spiderweb

4 slang  the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal shut your trap before someone belts you one! Synonyms of trap chops, gob [chiefly British], kisser [slang], mug, piehole [slang], mouth [slang], yap [slang]Words Related to trap countenance, face, puss [slang], visage; muzzle; jaws, mandible, maxilla; gullet, maw

1 to catch or hold as if in a net an ambitious young man who was now trapped in a series of shady business deals Synonyms of trap catch up, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entoil, entrap, mesh, net, snare, tangle, entangleWords Related to trap bag, birdlime, capture, collar; embroil, implicate, involve, mireNear Antonyms of trap detach, disengage, extricate; clear, free, liberateAntonyms of trap disentangle, untangle

2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand Synonyms of trap bag, capture, collar, cop [slang], corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, nobble [British slang], rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, catchWords Related to trap glove, halter, lasso, rope; apprehend, arrest, detain; bay, corner; clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure; rend, wrest; enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh; abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)Near Antonyms of trap discharge, free, liberate, release; drop, loosen, unhandAntonyms of trap miss