Entrap
//ɪnˈtɹæp// verb
verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To catch in a trap or snare. transitive
"Then noble ſouldiers to intrap these theeues […] We haue our Cammels laden al with gold: Which you that be but common ſouldiers, Shall fling in euery corner of the field: And while the baſe borne Tartars take it vp, You […] Shall maſſacre those greedie minded ſlaues."
- 2 catch in or as if in a trap wordnet
- 3 To lure (someone), either into a dangerous situation, or into performing an illegal act. transitive
- 4 take or catch as if in a snare or trap wordnet
Example
More examples"The cops were trying to entrap Tom."
Etymology
From Middle French entrapper, entraper, from Old French entraper, antraper (“catch in a trap”), equivalent to en- + trap. Compare Middle English bitrappen, from Old English betræppan (“to catch in a trap, entrap”), from the same West Germanic source (see Modern English betrap).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.