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¹snare

noun \ˈsner\

: a device that has a loop (called a noose) which gets smaller when the end of it is pulled and that is used to catch animals : a kind of trap

: a position or situation from which it is difficult to escape

Full Definition of SNARE

a (1) : a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals (2) : trap, gin

b (1) : something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded (2) : something deceptively attractive

[probably from Dutch snaar, literally, cord; akin to Old High German snuor]

a : one of the catgut strings or metal spirals of a snare drum

b : snare drum

: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils)

See snare defined for English-language learners

See snare defined for kids

Origin of SNARE

Middle English, from Old English sneare, probably from Old Norse snara; akin to Old High German snuor cord and perhaps to Greek narkē numbness

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SNARE

Synonyms: ambush, net, trap, web

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Rhymes with SNARE

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare

²snare

transitive verb

: to catch (an animal) in a snare

: to cause (something) to become caught in something (such as a net or trap)

: to win or get (something) by skillful action or good luck

snaredsnar·ing

Full Definition of SNARE

a : to capture by or as if by use of a snare

b : to win or attain by artful or skillful maneuvers

: to entangle or hold as if in a snare <any object that snared his eye — Current Biography>

— snar·er noun

First Known Use of SNARE

14th century

Related to SNARE

Synonyms: catch up, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entoil, entrap, mesh, net, entangle, tangle, trap

Antonyms: disentangle, untangle

Synonym Discussion of SNARE

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing. catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding <caught the dog as it ran by>. capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty <capture an enemy stronghold>. trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing <trap animals> <snared butterflies with a net>. entrap and ensnare more often are figurative <entrapped the witness with a trick question> <a sting operation that ensnared burglars>. bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey <bagged a brace of pheasants>.

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

SNARE Defined for Kids

¹snare

noun \ˈsner\

Definition of SNARE for Kids

: a trap (as a noose) for catching small animals and birds

: something that traps or deceives

²snare

verb

snaredsnar·ing

Definition of SNARE for Kids

: to catch or entangle by or as if by use of a trap for catching small animals

Medical Dictionary

snare

noun \ˈsna(ə)r, ˈsne(ə)r\

Medical Definition of SNARE

: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils or polyps)