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Entry 15 senses · 6 variants Webster, 1913

Trap

/trăp/ · IPA /[t̠ɹ̠̊˔æp]/
01 v. t. To dress with ornaments; to adorn; -- said especially of horses.
imp. & p. p. Trapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Trapping
  1. 1.
    To dress with ornaments; to adorn; -- said especially of horses.
    “Steeds . . . that trapped were in steel all glittering.” — Chaucer.
    “To deck his hearse, and trap his tomb-black steed.” — Spenser.
    “There she found her palfrey trapped In purple blazoned with armorial gold.” — Tennyson.
02 n. An old term rather loosely used to designate various dark-colored, heavy igneous rocks, including especially the feldspathic-augitic rocks,…
  1. 1.
    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.(Geol.) Also: trap rock
Phrases & compounds
Trap tufa — a kind of fragmental rock made up of fragments and earthy materials from trap rocks.
03 a. Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.
  1. 1.
    Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.
04 n. A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes.
  1. 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.” — Chaucer.
  2. 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.” — Rom. xi. 9.
    “God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me!” — Shak.
  3. 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. 4.
    The game of trapball.
  5. 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. 6.
    A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
  7. 7.
    A wagon, or other vehicle.[Colloq.]
  8. 8.
    A kind of movable stepladder.
Phrases & compounds
Trap stairs — a staircase leading to a trapdoor.
Trap tree — the jack; -- so called because it furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.
05 v. t. To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
  1. 1.
    To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
  2. 2.
    Fig.: To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap.
  3. 3.
    To provide with a trap; as, to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe. See 4th Trap, 5. See: Trap
06 v. i. To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.
  1. 1.
    To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.