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   Trap

   /trap/

   

   noun

   • 1. a device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals, typically by allowing entry but not exit or by catching hold of a part of the body: "the squirrels ravaged the saplings, despite the baited traps" Similar snarenetcageprisonencumbranceburdenproblem
   • ▪ the compartment from which a greyhound is released at the start of a race.
   • 2. a situation in which people lie in wait to make a surprise attack: "we were fed false information by a double agent and walked straight into a trap" Similar ambushluredecoybaitdated:ambuscade
   • ▪ a trick by which someone is misled into acting contrary to their interests or intentions: "by keeping quiet I was walking into a trap" Similar trickstratagemployrusewiledeceptionartificesubterfugedevicetrickeryinformal:setuparchaic:toils
   • ▪ an unpleasant situation from which it is hard to escape: "they fell into the trap of relying too little on equity financing" Similar ambushluredecoybaitdated:ambuscadesnarenetcageprisonencumbranceburdenproblem
   • 3. a container or device used to collect a specified thing: "one fuel filter and water trap are sufficient on the fuel system"
   • ▪ a curve in the waste pipe from a bathtub, sink, or toilet that is always full of liquid and prevents gases from coming up the pipe into the building.
   • ▪ a bunker or other hollow on a golf course.
   • 4. a light, two-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse or pony.
   • 5. a device for hurling an object such as a clay pigeon into the air to be shot at.
   • ▪ (in the game of trapball) the shoe-shaped device that is hit with a bat to send the ball into the air. historical
   • 6. short for trapdoor
   • 7. a person's mouth (used in expressions to do with speaking): informal "keep your trap shut!" Similar mouthjawslipsmawinformal:chopskisseryapgobcakeholemushpussbazoobake
   • 8. (among jazz musicians) drums or percussion instruments: informal "I played the traps a little myself once"
   • 9. a type of hip-hop music typically characterized by a dark tone and rhythms involving low-pitched kick drums and a very fast hi-hat: "the LP will feature his raps over a wide range of electronic sounds from dubstep to trap"
   • 10. a place where drugs are sold: informal US "a trap full of dealers"
   • 11. an act of trapping the ball.

   verb

   • 1. catch (an animal) in a trap. Similar confinecatchcut offcornerpin downdrive into a cornerpenhem inclose inshut inhedge inimprisonhold captive
   • ▪ prevent (someone) from escaping from a place: "twenty workers were trapped by flames"
   • ▪ have (something, typically a part of the body) held tightly by something so that it cannot move or be freed: "he had trapped his finger in a spring-loaded hinge" Similar get stuckcatchget caught
   • ▪ induce (someone), by means of trickery or deception, to do something they would not otherwise want to do: "I hoped to trap him into an admission" Similar trickdupedeceivecheatlureinveiglebeguilefoolhoodwinkseducecajolewheedlegullcatch outtrip upoutwitoutsmartarchaic:cozen
   • ▪ catch (the ball) after it has briefly touched the ground.
   • ▪ bring (the ball) under control with the feet or other part of the body on receiving it.

   Word Origin Old Englishtræppe (in coltetræppe ‘Christ's thorn’); related to Middle Dutch trappe and medieval Latin trappa, of uncertain origin. The verb dates from late Middle English.

   Derivatives

   • 1. traplike adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • T

     1

   • R

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   • A

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   • P

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