trap

English

Pronunciation

IPA: WEAE /tɹæp/

Etymology 1

Template:AS. treppan. See {Trap} a snare.

Transitive Verb

to trap

1. To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
2. To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap. I trapped the foe. —Dryden.
3. To provide with a trap; as, to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe.

Intransitive Verb

to trap

1. To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.

Adjective

trap

1. Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.

Etymology 2

Template:OE. trappe, Template:AS. treppe; akin to Template:OD. trappe, Template:OHG. trapo; probably from the root of Template:E. tramp, as that which is trod upon: confer Template:F. trappe, which is trod upon: confer Template:F. trappe, which perhaps influenced the English word.

Noun

trap

1. A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes. She would weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap. —Chaucer.
2. A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares. Let their table be made a snare and a trap. —Rom. xi. 9.; God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me! —Shakespere
3. A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end. Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at.
4. The game of trapball.
5. A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids.
6. A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
7. A light two-wheeled carriage with springs. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out. —Sherlock Holmes.
8. A kind of movable stepladder.
9. An old term rather loosely used to designate various dark-colored, heavy igneous rocks, including especially the feldspathic-augitic rocks, basalt, dolerite, amygdaloid, etc., but including also some kinds of diorite. Called also trap rock.
10. (slang) A pre-operative transvestite posing as a real woman.

Synonyms

• snare

Translations

• Dutch: val Template:f (1, 2), trapladder Template:f (8)
• French: piège (1, 2), traquenard (2)

Related terms

• entrap
• entrapment

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Dutch

Noun

trap (plural: trappen, diminutive: trapje)

1. stair, staircase
2. kick

Verb

trap

1. first person singular present tense of trappen

Translations

• English: kick