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Trap   /træp/   Listen
noun
Trap  n.  (Geol.) An old term rather loosely used to designate various dark-colored, heavy igneous rocks, including especially the feldspathic-augitic rocks, basalt, dolerite, amygdaloid, etc., but including also some kinds of diorite. Called also trap rock.
Trap tufa, Trap tuff, a kind of fragmental rock made up of fragments and earthy materials from trap rocks.



Trap  n.  
1.
A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes. "She would weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap."
2.
Fig.: A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares. "Let their table be made a snare and a trap." "God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me!"
3.
A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end. Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at.
4.
The game of trapball.
5.
A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids.
6.
A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
7.
A wagon, or other vehicle. (Colloq.)
8.
A kind of movable stepladder.
Trap stairs, a staircase leading to a trapdoor.
Trap tree (Bot.) the jack; so called because it furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.



verb
Trap  v. t.  (past & past part. trapped; pres. part. trapping)  To dress with ornaments; to adorn; said especially of horses. "Steeds... that trapped were in steel all glittering." "To deck his hearse, and trap his tomb-black steed." "There she found her palfrey trapped In purple blazoned with armorial gold."



Trap  v. t.  
1.
To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
2.
Fig.: To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap. "I trapped the foe."
3.
To provide with a trap; as, to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe. See 4th Trap, 5.



Trap  v. i.  To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.



adjective
Trap  adj.  Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Trap" Quotes from Famous Books



... It could not be called a vessel at all; it was a machine,—and I have seen one of somewhat similar appearance employed in cleaning out the docks; or, for lack of a better similitude, it looked like a gigantic rat-trap. It was ugly, questionable, suspicious, evidently mischievous,—nay, I will allow myself to call it devilish; for this was the new war-fiend, destined, along with others of the same breed, to annihilate whole navies and batter down old ...
— Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 57, July, 1862 - A Magazine Of Literature, Art, And Politics • Various

... had recognized her, my being so close would have made it none the better for her. And could I be sure that he had not seen her? I did not think he was the kind, of man, with all his faults, to lay a trap even for an enemy whom he suspected; ...
— The Heavenly Twins • Madame Sarah Grand

... the Chimney One seam and a half of old malt. Item, a trap for rats. Item, a board of ...
— The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) • James Anthony Froude

... Cardinal laid another trap for me that I was not aware of,—by tempting me with the proffer of the Government of Paris; and when I had shown a willingness to accept it, he found means to break off the treaty I was making for that purpose with the Prince de Guemende, who had the reversion of ...
— Marguerite de Navarre - Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois Queen of Navarre • Marguerite de Navarre

... to the trap was the pig. He viewed it with contempt, and, to show his disdain of his enemies and his disregard for their snare, he tried to walk through it with a lofty tread. He found he had undervalued it, however, when, in spite of his struggles, he ...
— St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, September 1878, No. 11 • Various


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