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# trap

«trap» in Mova's school dictionary: **a device for catching animals, such as a mousetrap** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a trap, traps); verb (trap, traps, trapped, trapping)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A trap is a device for catching animals, such as a mousetrap. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#m1)

2) A trap is a clever plan to catch or trick someone. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#m2)

3) To trap someone or something is to catch it or keep it somewhere it cannot get out of. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#m3)

4) A trap in a question or puzzle is a part that tricks you into a wrong answer. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In stories a trap builds tension: someone may be caught, or a clever hero escapes. In safety lessons people can be trapped by fire, water or a locked space, so you learn exits and to call for help. In maths, a "trap question" hides a detail that changes the answer. Phrases: set a trap, fall into a trap, be trapped, a speed trap, trap heat.

### examples

- The farmer set a trap for the rat in the barn. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x1)
- The cat was trapped in the shed all night. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x2)
- Don't fall into the trap of rushing the last question. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x3)
- The firefighters rescued a family trapped on the top floor. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x4)
- A greenhouse traps heat from the sun. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x5)
- That riddle has a trap: read it twice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x6)
- The police set a trap to catch the thief. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x7)
- Then he laid traps for the wicked animal. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/#x8)

### note

Past form trapped, with double p. "Trapped" can mean caught by something (trapped under a branch) or unable to leave (trapped in a lift). Never try to free a wild animal from a trap yourself; tell an adult. In maths a trap usually means an extra or misleading number you should not use.

### In the corpora

- [Free prizes that want your password are traps."](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/47-viral-rumours-cancellations-fakes-and-apologies/4/)
- [Wetlands soak up flood water like giant sponges and let it out slowly, and reed roots trap mud and clean the water.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/11-swamps-marshes-mangroves-and-bogs/17/)
- [Web spiders feel vibrations so well they can tell a trapped insect from a leaf or a raindrop.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/148-spider-man-real-spider-senses-climbing-and-bites/7/)
- [In experiments, rats opened a cage to free another trapped rat, even when they could have eaten chocolate instead.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/222-rats-and-mice-in-the-city-and-the-elephant-and-mouse-myth/11/)
- [Mice prefer grains, seeds and sweet foods to cheese, so peanut butter works better in humane traps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/228-cartoon-pets-and-animal-myths-put-right/8/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «trap» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trap/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.