snare

/sneə/

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Word: Snare

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Definition:

1. Noun:

   • A "snare" can refer to a trap used to catch birds or small animals. It often has a slip noose that tightens around the animal when it gets caught.
   • In music, a "snare" can mean the snare drum, which has strings stretched across the lower head that make a rattling sound when the drum is played.
   • In medicine, a "snare" is a surgical instrument with a wire hoop that can be tightened to remove polyps or small tumors, usually in body cavities.
   • It can also mean something that deceives or traps someone unexpectedly, like a tricky question on an exam.

2. Verb:

   • To "snare" means to entice and trap someone or something, like a car salesman who might snare customers with attractive offers.
   • It can also mean to catch something in a trap, like trapping a fox.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "snare" as a noun when talking about traps, musical instruments, or deceiving situations.
• Use "snare" as a verb when referring to the action of trapping or enticing someone or something.

Examples:

• Noun: "The hunter set a snare to catch rabbits."
• Noun (musical): "He played the snare drum in the marching band."
• Noun (medical): "The doctor used a snare to remove the polyp safely."
• Noun (deceptive): "The exam was full of snare questions that confused many students."
• Verb: "The clever salesman snared three customers with his persuasive speech."

Advanced Usage:

• "The snare of procrastination often leads to poor performance in studies."
• "She felt caught in a snare of her own making when she overcommitted to too many projects."

Word Variants:

• Snaring (verb) - The present participle form, used to indicate the ongoing action of trapping something.
• Snared (verb) - The past tense form of the verb.

Different Meanings:

• In a figurative sense, "snare" can refer to any situation that is difficult to escape from, not just physical traps.

Synonyms:

• For the noun (trap): trap, noose, catch.
• For the verb (entice/trap): capture, ensnare, entrap.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Caught in a snare" - This idiom means to be trapped in a difficult situation.
• There are no common phrasal verbs specifically for "snare," but it can be used in phrases like "snare a deal" (to successfully secure a deal).

Academic

Noun

1. a trap for birds or small mammals; often has a slip noose
2. strings stretched across the lower head of a snare drum; they make a rattling sound when the drum is hit
3. a surgical instrument consisting of wire hoop that can be drawn tight around the base of polyps or small tumors to sever them; used especially in body cavities
4. a small drum with two heads and a snare stretched across the lower head
5. something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
   • the exam was full of trap questions
   • it was all a snare and delusion

Verb

1. entice and trap
   • The car salesman had snared three potential customers
2. catch in or as if in a trap
   • The men trap foxes

Synonyms

• gin
• noose
• snare drum
• side drum
• trap
• hook
• entrap
• ensnare
• trammel