---
title: trap — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trap» in the school dictionary: A trap is a device for catching animals, such as a mousetrap. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trap

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** trap, device, someone, it, part, farmer · **What happens:** be, catch, trick, trap, keep, not get out · **To what, where:** device, animals, clever plan, someone, it, part

<!-- .vabout -->
«trap» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [trap in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trap.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trap is a device for catching animals, such as a mousetrap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:m1:1
# text = A trap is a device for catching animals, such as a mousetrap.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catching	catch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	mousetrap	mousetrap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trap | a device |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | gerund | a device *not said here* | animals |  |  |  | such a mousetrap | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A trap is a clever plan to catch or trick someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:m2:1
# text = A trap is a clever plan to catch or trick someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trap | a clever plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **trick** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To trap someone or something is to catch it or keep it somewhere it cannot get out of.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:m3:1
# text = To trap someone or something is to catch it or keep it somewhere it cannot get out of.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trap	trap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
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	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	17	advmod	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	IN	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | catch *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **get out** | can | it |  |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn withdraw-82-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trap in a question or puzzle is a part that tricks you into a wrong answer.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:m4:1
# text = A trap in a question or puzzle is a part that tricks you into a wrong answer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	tricks	trick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trap in a question or puzzle | a part |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trick** | present | a part | you |  |  |  | into a wrong answer *result* | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent you=Patient into answer=Result |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer set a trap for the rat in the barn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x1:1
# text = The farmer set a trap for the rat in the barn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	set	set	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rat	rat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | past | the farmer | a trap |  | the barn |  | for the rat | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent trap=Theme in barn=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat was trapped in the shed all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x2:1
# text = The cat was trapped in the shed all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | past · passive |  | the cat |  | the shed | night |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in shed=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't fall into the trap of rushing the last question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x3:1
# text = Don't fall into the trap of rushing the last question.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	fall	fall	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	rushing	rush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fall** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the trap *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into trap=Result |
| 2 | **rush** | gerund | the trap *not said here* | the last question |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme question=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters rescued a family trapped on the top floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x4:1
# text = The firefighters rescued a family trapped on the top floor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rescued	rescue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rescue** | past | the firefighters | a family |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent family=Theme |
| 2 | **trap** | participle |  | a family *not said here* |  | the top floor |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on floor=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A greenhouse traps heat from the sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x5:1
# text = A greenhouse traps heat from the sun.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	greenhouse	greenhouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	traps	trap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | present | a greenhouse | heat |  | the sun. |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heat=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That riddle has a trap: read it twice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x6:1
# text = That riddle has a trap: read it twice.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | that riddle | a trap |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trap=Patient |
| 2 | **read** | infinitive |  | trap |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police set a trap to catch the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x7:1
# text = The police set a trap to catch the thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	set	set	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | past | the police | a trap |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient trap=Result |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | the police *not said here* | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thief=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then he laid traps for the wicked animal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trap:x8:1
# text = Then he laid traps for the wicked animal.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laid	lay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	traps	trap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | past | he | traps |  |  | then | for the wicked animal | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent trap=Result for animal=Beneficiary |

<!-- div src -->

**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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