trap

trap1 [ træp ] noun count **

▸ 1 for catching animals

▸ 2 bad situation

▸ 3 trick

▸ 4 problem to avoid

▸ 5 carriage

▸ + PHRASES

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.

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.

3. ) a trick that is designed to catch someone or make them do something they did not mean to do:

The platoon was lured into a trap by guerrilla soldiers.

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.

5. ) a type of CARRIAGE pulled by a horse

keep your trap shut SPOKEN

used for telling someone rudely to keep something secret

shut your trap SPOKEN

used for telling someone rudely to stop talking

=> DEATH TRAP, TOURIST TRAP

trap

trap 2 [ træp ] verb transitive **

▸ 1 prevent someone from leaving

▸ 2 be unable to change something

▸ 3 catch a criminal

▸ 4 trick someone

▸ 5 keep air, etc. in a place

1. ) usually passive to 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.

a ) to prevent a part of someone's body from moving by pushing on it hard:

His legs were trapped under fallen rocks.

2. ) always passive to 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.

a ) to catch an animal using a trap

4. ) to trick someone in order to make them do or say something they did not want to:

trap someone into (doing) something: I was trapped into admitting that I had lied.

5. ) to keep something such as air, gas, or energy in a particular place:

Carbon dioxide causes the Earth's atmosphere to trap heat.