1. A device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
   "The wildlife researcher set up a humane trap to capture and study the local fox population"
    
2. The act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
   "The soldiers set up a trap along the enemy's expected route";
   - ambush, ambuscade [archaic], lying in wait
    
3. Something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
   "the exam was full of trap questions";
   - snare
    
4. Drain consisting of a U-shaped section of drainpipe that holds liquid and so prevents a return flow of sewer gas
   "The plumber installed a new trap under the sink to eliminate the unpleasant odour"
    
5. A device to hurl clay pigeons into the air for trapshooters
   "The trap launched clay pigeons at various angles to challenge the shooters"
    
6. [informal] The opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
   "he stuffed his trap with candy";
   - mouth, oral cavity, oral fissure, cakehole [Brit, informal], hole [informal], maw [informal], yap [N. Amer, informal], gob [Brit, informal], kisser [informal]
    
7. A hazard on a golf course
   "His ball landed in the sand trap, making for a challenging shot";
   - bunker, sand trap
    
8. A light two-wheeled carriage
   "The couple enjoyed a romantic ride through the park in a horse-drawn trap"
    
9. [US, informal] A place where illegal drugs are sold
   "The police raided a suspected trap";
   - crack house [informal], trap house [US, informal], drug house

1. (hunting) catch in or as if in a trap
   "The men trap foxes";
   - entrap, snare, ensnare, trammel
    
2. Place in a confining or embarrassing position
   "He was trapped in a difficult situation";
   - pin down
    
3. Hold or catch as if in a trap
   "The gaps between the teeth trap food particles"
    
4. To hold fast or prevent from moving
   "The child was trapped under the fallen tree";
   - pin, immobilize, immobilise [Brit]
    
5. To sell marijuana on a street corner
   "He was caught trapping in the neighbourhood"
    
6. [US, dialect] Sell narcotics, esp. on a street
   "He was arrested for trapping in the neighbourhood"

Derived forms: traps, trapped, trapping

Type of: capture, carriage, catch, confine, coup de main, deal, design, detain, device, drain, drainpipe, equipage, hazard, hold, mechanical device, plan, rig, rima, surprise attack, waste pipe

Part of: golf course, links course, mouth

Encyclopedia: Trap, neuter and release program