American Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition trap in American English

trap verb

[transitive] verb
/træp/
1

to prevent someone from leaving a place, especially a dangerous place

Example

Both men were trapped inside the burning car.

Example

The bomb exploded, trapping victims in the building.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to prevent a part of someone's body from moving by pressing it hard

Example

His legs were trapped under fallen rocks.

Synonyms and related words
2

to be unable to change a bad situation or way of thinking

Example

I felt trapped by my marriage.

Example

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

Example

Police officers trapped both suspects before they left the bank.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

to catch an animal using a trap

Synonyms and related words
4

to trick someone in order to make them do or say something that they did not want to do or say

Example

I was trapped into admitting I had lied.

Synonyms and related words
5

to keep something such as air, gas, or energy in a particular place

Example

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

Synonyms and related words
Definition trap in American English