How do you use the word "trap" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "trap": Cheese often lures a mouse into a trap. The old man freed the little fox from the trap.

Trap Meaning

/tɹæp/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body.

nounA trick or arrangement designed to catch someone in a more general sense; a snare.

Sentence Examples

Cheese often lures a mouse into a trap.

The old man freed the little fox from the trap.

A fox with its leg in a trap

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

snare

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The hunter set a steel ____ in the forest to catch a big rabbit for dinner.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The hunters set a small ____ in the woods to catch the rabbit that had been eating the young garden vegetables today.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English trappe, from Old English træppe, treppe (“trap, snare”) (also in betræppan (“to trap”)) from Proto-West Germanic *trappjā (“trap, snare”), from Proto-West Germanic *trappjan (“to step”), from Proto-Germanic *trapjaną (“to tread, stamp”), from Proto-Indo-European *drebʰ- (“to step, trip, trample”). Cognate with Dutch trap (“step, stair”), German Low German Trapp (“step, stair”). Akin also to West Frisian traap (“stepping, treading, stairway”), German Treppe (“step, stair”), Old English træppan (“to step, tread”). Connection to "step" is "that upon which one steps". French trappe and Spanish trampa are ultimately borrowings from Germanic.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"The Russian bear has always been eager to stick his paw in Latin American waters. Now we've got him in a trap, let's take his leg off right up to his testicles. On second thought, let's take off his testicles, too." — 1995, Richard Rhodes, quoting Curtis LeMay, “Scorpions in a Bottle”, in Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb, New York: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 574:

"God and your majesty / Protect mine innocence, or I fall into / The trap is laid for me!" — 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

"And trust me you don't want to see a trap ether. I like my girls without a ding-a-ling." — 2011 May 27, “Re: anons target US chamber”, in alt.2600 (Usenet):

"man says he isn't a fag when asking to masturbate with my body. positions himself as conqueror, calls my body trick, trap, tranny. man fucks witch embarrassed by his own release […]" — 2020, jaye simpson, it was never going to be okay, Harbour Publishing, →ISBN:

"“My son is a tranny.” “No, mother dear, I'm a Trap. There is a difference. You should have knocked before you came in.” 'Trap'? For all she knew about terms for cross-dressers he could have said he was a splurge monkey or yiff jumper and it would have meant the same. […] "Now I'm Poppy. I'm a boy who's androgynous enough to be confused as a girl[.]"" — 2021, Coulsdon Writers, Back to the Writing, →ISBN, page 37:

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