If you’re a Star Wars junkie or a die-hard Family Guy fan, you’ve likely come across the memorable phrase, “It’s a trap!” once or twice. Still, what exactly does the word “trap” mean?

In this post, we’re exploring the vast world of terminology to uncover the definition behind the word trap. So, if you’ve ever been curious as to what Admiral Ackbar or Peter Griffin mean when they mention the term trap (træp or tr æ p) — keep reading. Here’s our complete guide on trap.

What Is the Definition of Trap?

Below we have compiled a brief list of the most commonly used definitions for trap:

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, trap can is a dangerous or unpleasant situation that you’ve gotten into from which it is difficult or impossible to escape. Trap can also be a slang word that simply means “mouth.”

When used as a countable noun, the Collins Dictionary defines trap as a trick that is intended to catch or deceive someone. In terms of music, trap refers to a style of hip-hop or EDM music.

The Macmillan Dictionary says the word trap refers to a mistake or problem that you should try to avoid. Trap can also refer to a type of carriage pulled by a horse.

As you can see, our word of the day has more than one meaning. Be sure to pick up on context clues when you come across trap to ensure that you understand which version is being used.

What Is the Word Origin of Trap?

The word trap derives from Middle English trappe (noun) and trappen (verb) as well as Old English træppe (noun), which is akin to German Treppe “staircase” and Old English treppan “to tread.”

What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Trap?

Seeing as our word of the day has many definitions, it’s really no surprise that trap has a ton of synonyms and antonyms!

Just to refresh your memory from grade school, synonyms are words that have the same — or nearly the same — meaning as another word, whereas antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning of another word.

Synonyms of trap include:

Snare
Net
Booby trap
Prison
Cage
Conceal trap
Deadfall
Mousetrap
Entrap
Baited trap
Pitfall
Ambush
Come-on
Surprise attack
Inveiglement
Coaxing
Stratagem
Carrot
Allurement
Surprise
Decoy
Caparison
Ambuscade
Pull
Set up
Ruse
Ploy
Artifice
Deception
Con
Fly in the ointment
Stumbling block
Catch 22
Land mine
Game net
Trawl net
Fishing net
Subterfuge
Entanglement
Quagmire
Morass
Quicksand
Sand bunker
Sand trap
Bunker
Joker in the pack

Antonyms of trap include:

Open space
Extrication
Disentanglement
Freeing
Open area
Repulsion
Deterrent
Fact
Truth
Release
Rescue
Frankness
Honesty
Forthrightness
Facing
Directness
Meeting
Ignorance
Original
Freedom
Liberation
Advancement
Boon
Unclasp
Unfasten
Disenthrall
Elevation
Success
Let go
Progression
Achievement
Growth
Let loose
Aid
Liability
Predictability
Sureness
Set free

How Can You Use Trap in a Sentence?

Wondering how to use the word trap in a sentence? Here are a few sentence examples for you to review:

Did you hear that Jason was caught in a speed trap this weekend?

I was able to make so many great memories with my grandparents this summer; my favorite had got to be when my granddad and I went out to trap foxes!

John told me that he was catching animals in the woods with a trap he made last weekend.

Please keep your trap shut — I am tired of hearing your voice.

The house had a secret trapdoor that opened into a small bunker.

Mr. Miller said that the igneous rock probably derived from the mafic traprock.

The golf course is full of twists, turns, and traps so be careful when you hit your golf ball!

Do you have any ideas where I might be able to find a device to hurl clay pigeons into the air for trapshooters next weekend?

Some call it a booby-trap, but I think it’s a death trap!

Would you like to join us for a fun game of trapball tomorrow?

Don’t forget to disconnect the water lines just above the valves and the drain piping at the trap!

If you ask me, it’s really tough these days to get avoid the poverty trap.

I am not particularly fond of trapping animals, but if it’s for their well-being, then I will help you to build a humane trap with a few various devices.

At the sound of the bell, the students shot out of the school gates like greyhounds out of the trap.

What Are Translations of Trap?

Now that you’re up to speed on the meaning behind our word of the day, let’s take a look at some translations, shall we?

There are translations of trap as a noun provided by the Collins Dictionary:

Dutch — val, valstrik
European Spanish — trampa, caza
Finnish — ansa
French — piège
American English — trap
Arabic — مِصْيَدَة
British English — trap
Brazilian Portuguese — armadilha
Chinese — 陷阱
Croatian — klopka
Czech — past
Japanese — わな
Korean — 올가미
Norwegian — felle
European Portuguese — armadilha
Romanian — capcană
Russian — ловушка
Spanish — trampa
Swedish — fälla, fallgrop
Thai — กับดัก
Turkish — tuzak
Ukrainian — пастка
Vietnamese — cái bẫy
Polish — pułapka
Danish — fælde
German — Falle
Greek — παγίδα
Italian — trappola

These translations as a verb are also provided by Collins Dictionary:

American English — trap
Brazilian Portuguese — pegar numa armadilha
Chinese — 设陷阱捕捉
European Spanish — atrapar
British English — trap
Italian — prendere in trappola
Japanese — わなで捕らえる
Korean — 덫을 놓아 잡다
European Portuguese — pegar numa armadilha
Spanish — atrapar
Thai — ดัก
French — prendre au piège
German — mit einer Falle fangen

Recap

Our word of the day can be defined as a device or hole for catching and holding things — such as a person or an animal. If someone uses trap as a slang word, however, then they are likely referring to a person’s mouth. Trap is also the name of a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States during the early 2000s.

In other words, trap has multiple meanings and can be used in a number of ways!

Sources:

Trap definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

TRAP: definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

TRAP (noun) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.