snare

 
Pronunciation: /snɛː/

noun

  • 1a trap for catching birds or mammals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord.
  • a thing likely to lure or tempt someone into harm or error: seducers laid their snares for innocent provincials
  • 2a length of wire, gut, or hide stretched across a drumhead to produce a rattling sound.
  • (also snare drum) a drum fitted with snares; a side drum.
  • 3 Surgery a wire loop for severing polyps or other growths.

verb

[with object]
  • catch (a bird or mammal) in a snare: the foxes were humanely snared
  • catch or trap (someone): five blackmailers were snared in a police sting

Derivatives

snarer

noun

Origin:

late Old English sneare, from Old Norse snara. snare (sense 2 of the noun) is probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch snare 'harp string'