---
title: entrap — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «entrap» in the school dictionary: To entrap someone or something is to catch them in a trap. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# entrap

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Entrapment, police, hunters, plan, villain, judge · **What happens:** entrap, be, do, catch, trick, commit · **To what, where:** someone, trap, something, they, crime, wolf · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«entrap» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [entrap in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/entrap.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To entrap someone or something is to catch them in a trap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:m1:1
# text = To entrap someone or something is to catch them in a trap.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entrap	entrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entrap** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a trap |  | catch *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To entrap someone is to trick them into doing something wrong, especially so they can be caught.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:m2:1
# text = To entrap someone is to trick them into doing something wrong, especially so they can be caught.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entrap	entrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
14	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entrap** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | trick *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **catch** | can · passive |  | they |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Entrapment is when police unfairly trick someone into committing a crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:m3:1
# text = Entrapment is when police unfairly trick someone into committing a crime.
1	Entrapment	entrapment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
4	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	trick	trick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	committing	commit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | Entrapment |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trick** | present | police | someone |  |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 3 | **commit** | gerund | police *not said here* | a crime |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crime=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hunters tried to entrap the wolf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x1:1
# text = The hunters tried to entrap the wolf.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hunters	hunter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	entrap	entrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wolf	wolf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the hunters |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **entrap** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the hunters *not said here* | the wolf |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wolf=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bubbles of air were entrapped in the ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x2:1
# text = Bubbles of air were entrapped in the ice.
1	Bubbles	bubble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	entrapped	entrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entrap** | past · passive |  | Bubbles of air |  | the ice |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain's plan was to entrap the detective.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x3:1
# text = The villain's plan was to entrap the detective.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	entrap	entrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the villain's plan |  |  |  |  | entrap *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said the police had used entrapment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x4:1
# text = The judge said the police had used entrapment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
8	entrapment	entrapment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | past · perfect · passive |  | the police |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flies get entrapped in the sticky paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x5:1
# text = Flies get entrapped in the sticky paper.
1	Flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	entrapped	entrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entrap** | present · passive |  | Flies |  | the sticky paper |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt entrapped by his promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entrap:x6:1
# text = He felt entrapped by his promise.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	entrapped	entrap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **entrap** | participle | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by his promise | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **promise** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom promise «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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