trap
Transitive VerbIntransitive Verb[C/U] Both
pl: trapspast: trappedpp: trappeding: trapping
The word carries a heavy sense of inevitability and confinement. It suggests a sudden transition from freedom to captivity, often involving a hidden mechanism or a calculated deception. There is a psychological weight of betrayal or failure associated with being trapped, as the victim usually realizes the danger only after it is too late to escape.
Countable when referring to a physical device like a mousetrap. Uncountable when referring to the general state of being caught or the concept of entrapment.
Meanings
Noun
A deceptive situation or trick intended to lure someone into a mistake.
"The low price was a trap to get customers into the store."
Transitive Verb
[someone][something]
To catch someone or something in a trap.
"The spider trapped a fly in its web."