trap

noun countable

UK /træp/

Word Forms

singular	trap
plural	traps

1
a piece of equipment used for catching animals
set/lay a trap (=make it ready to be used):
We set traps in the attic for the mice.
Synonyms and related words
Hunting, shooting and fishing equipment
bait
barb
cockpit
2
a bad or unpleasant situation that is difficult to change or escape from
caught in a trap (of something):
He was caught in a trap of poverty.
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
3
a trick that is designed to catch someone or to make them do or say something that they did not want to do or say
The platoon was lured into a trap by guerrilla soldiers.
We didn’t know that we were walking straight into a trap.
Synonyms and related words
Tricks, pretences and dishonest plans
ploy
hoax
dodge
4
a mistake or problem that you should try to avoid
fall into the trap of (doing) something:
I fell into the trap of putting work before family.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble
5
a type of carriage pulled by a horse
Synonyms and related words
Road vehicles pulled by horses
brougham
buggy
cab
6
be quick/slow, etc. out of the traps
to be quick/slow, etc. getting started
The party seems to have hit the ground running while others have been slow out of the traps.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 28/04/2019
Open Dictionary - April2019
7
a sub genre of hip hop that developed in the southern USSubmitted from:
United Kingdom on 09/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrases

keep your trap shut

trap

noun countable

US /træp/

Word Forms

singular	trap
plural	traps

1
a piece of equipment used for catching animals
set/lay a trap (=make it ready to be used):
We set traps in the attic for the mice.
Synonyms and related words
Hunting, shooting and fishing equipment
bait
barb
cockpit
2
a bad or unpleasant situation that is difficult to change or escape from
caught in a trap (of something):
He was caught in a trap of poverty.
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
3
a trick that is designed to catch someone or to make them do or say something that they did not want to do or say
The platoon was lured into a trap by guerrilla soldiers.
We didn’t know that we were walking straight into a trap.
Synonyms and related words
Tricks, pretenses and dishonest plans
ploy
hoax
dodge
4
a mistake or problem that you should try to avoid
fall into the trap of (doing) something:
I fell into the trap of putting work before family.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble
5
a type of carriage pulled by a horse
Synonyms and related words
Road vehicles pulled by horses
brougham
buckboard
buggy
6
be quick/slow, etc. out of the traps
to be quick/slow, etc. getting started
The party seems to have hit the ground running while others have been slow out of the traps.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 28/04/2019
Open Dictionary - April2019
7
a sub genre of hip hop that developed in the southern USSubmitted from:
United Kingdom on 09/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrases

keep your trap shut

trap

verb transitive

UK /træp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	trap
he/she/it	traps
present participle	trapping
past tense	trapped
past participle	trapped

1
usually passiveto prevent someone from leaving a place, especially a dangerous place
Both men were trapped inside the burning car.
The bomb exploded, trapping victims in the building.
Synonyms and related words
To put a person or animal in a place they cannot leave
shut in
imprison
confine
1. 1a
  to prevent a part of someone’s body from moving by pressing it hard
  His legs were trapped under fallen rocks.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
2
always passiveto be unable to change a bad situation or way of thinking
I felt trapped by my marriage.
They are trapped in a cycle of violence.
3
to catch someone such as a criminal, especially by forcing them into a place that they cannot escape from
Police officers trapped both suspects before they left the bank.
Synonyms and related words
Arresting, interviewing and charging suspects
apprehend
apprehension
arrest
1. 3a
  to catch an animal using a trap
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
4
to trick someone in order to make them do or say something that they did not want to do or say
trap someone into (doing) something:
I was trapped into admitting I had lied.
Synonyms and related words
To cheat or trick someone
shanghai
rip off
deceive
5
to keep something such as air, gas, or energy in a particular place
Carbon dioxide causes the Earth’s atmosphere to trap heat.
Synonyms and related words
To contain something
include
contain
fit

trap

verb transitive

US /træp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	trap
he/she/it	traps
present participle	trapping
past tense	trapped
past participle	trapped

1
usually passiveto prevent someone from leaving a place, especially a dangerous place
Both men were trapped inside the burning car.
The bomb exploded, trapping victims in the building.
Synonyms and related words
To put a person or animal in a place they cannot leave
shut in
imprison
confine
1. 1a
  to prevent a part of someone’s body from moving by pressing it hard
  His legs were trapped under fallen rocks.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
2
always passiveto be unable to change a bad situation or way of thinking
I felt trapped by my marriage.
They are trapped in a cycle of violence.
3
to catch someone such as a criminal, especially by forcing them into a place that they cannot escape from
Police officers trapped both suspects before they left the bank.
Synonyms and related words
Arresting, interviewing and charging suspects
apprehend
apprehension
arrest
1. 3a
  to catch an animal using a trap
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
4
to trick someone in order to make them do or say something that they did not want to do or say
trap someone into (doing) something:
I was trapped into admitting I had lied.
Synonyms and related words
To cheat or trick someone
shanghai
cheat
rip off
5
to keep something such as air, gas, or energy in a particular place
Carbon dioxide causes the Earth’s atmosphere to trap heat.
Synonyms and related words
To contain something
include
contain
fit

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