First Known Use: 1534
Dictionary
entrap
verb en·trap \in-ˈtrap, en-\
: to catch (someone or something) in a trap or in something like a trap
Full Definition of ENTRAP
transitive verb
1
: to catch in or as if in a trap
2
: to lure into a compromising statement or act
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Origin of ENTRAP
Middle French entraper, from en- + trape trap
Related to ENTRAP
Synonym Discussion of ENTRAP
catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing. catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding <caught the dog as it ran by>. capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty <capture an enemy stronghold>. trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing <trap animals> <snared butterflies with a net>. entrap and ensnare more often are figurative <entrapped the witness with a trick question> <a sting operation that ensnared burglars>. bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey <bagged a brace of pheasants>.
Rhymes with ENTRAP
ASCAP, backslap, backwrap, bitmap, blackcap, bootstrap, burlap, Carnap, catnap, cell sap, claptrap, death cap, death trap, dunce cap, dognap, earflap, enwrap, firetrap, foolscap, gelcap, gift wrap, gun lap, heeltap, hubcap, ice cap, jockstrap, kidnap, kneecap, lagniappe, light trap, livetrap, love tap, madcap, mantrap, mayhap, mishap, mobcap, mousetrap, mud flap, nightcap, on tap, pace lap, pinesap, rattrap, recap, redcap, remap, riprap, road map, root cap, sand trap, shiplap, shrink-wrap, skullcap, skycap, snowcap, spark gap, speed trap, steel-trap, stopgap, toe cap, unsnap, unstrap, unwrap, watch cap, whitecap, wind gap, winesap, wiretap, word wrap
ENTRAP Defined for Kids
entrap
verb en·trap \in-ˈtrap\
en·trappeden·trap·ping
Definition of ENTRAP for Kids
: to catch in or as if in a trap
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