noun

mousetrap

MOWS-trap

Mousetrap (noun) means a device designed to catch or kill mice. Example: “He baited the mousetrap with a bit of cheese.”

noun

A device designed to catch or kill mice.

"He baited the mousetrap with a bit of cheese."

A website that opens endless new pop-ups or copies of itself when the user tries to close it.

"The shady site mousetrapped his browser with dozens of new tabs."

verb

To trick or trap someone into a bad situation.

"The salesman tried to mousetrap customers into a long-term contract."

How to use mousetrap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA trap for mice, or — online — a page that traps your browser.

Common pairings

set a mousetrap mousetrap website

Word forms

mousetrapped past tense, mousetraps plural, mousetraps singular

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He baited the _____ with a bit of cheese.

Etymology

From Middle English mouse-trappe, a straightforward combination of "mouse" and "trap." The web-browser sense borrows the trap idea for a page that won't let you leave.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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trap play

Frequently asked questions

What does “mousetrap” mean?

The word “mousetrap” means a device designed to catch or kill mice. In plain terms, a trap for mice, or — online — a page that traps your browser.

How do you pronounce “mousetrap”?

“Mousetrap” is pronounced MOWS-trap (/ˈmaʊsˌtɹæp/ in IPA).

How do you use “mousetrap” in a sentence?

Here is “mousetrap” used in a sentence: “He baited the mousetrap with a bit of cheese.”

What part of speech is “mousetrap”?

Depending on how it is used, “mousetrap” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “mousetrap” come from?

The word “mousetrap” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mouse-trappe, a straightforward combination of "mouse" and "trap." The web-browser sense borrows the trap idea for a page that won't let you leave.

How many meanings does “mousetrap” have?

“Mousetrap” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device designed to catch or kill mice.