# snare

/ˈsnɛɹ/ (US) · /snˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snare
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. animal trap

noun · CEFR B2

a trap made of a loop of wire or rope that tightens around an animal to catch it.

For teachers: a device for capturing small animals, typically consisting of a noose of wire or cord that tightens when pulled.

- The hunter set a wire snare in the woods to catch a rabbit for dinner.
- Wildlife conservationists discovered several illegal snares hidden in the undergrowth, designed to trap small mammals passing through the forest corridor.

### 2. a trick or hidden danger

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a situation that seems attractive but is actually a trap or a danger.

For teachers: something that leads one into error, debt, or a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape.

- He fell into the snare of borrowing money he could never pay back.
- The politician managed to avoid the snares laid by his opponents during the televised debate, refusing to be drawn into a personal argument.

### 3. drum component

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the set of metal wires stretched across the bottom of a drum that make a rattling sound.

For teachers: a set of gut or metal strings stretched across the lower head of a drum to produce a characteristic crisp, rattling timbre.

- The drummer adjusted the tension of the snare to get a sharper sound.
- By loosening the snare, the percussionist achieved a deeper, more resonant tone suitable for the orchestral piece's somber opening.

### 4. a type of drum

noun · CEFR B2

a small drum that makes a sharp, rattling sound when hit.

For teachers: a small, cylindrical drum equipped with snares across the bottom head; a snare drum.

- The marching band started the parade with a steady beat on the snare.
- The jazz drummer's intricate brushwork on the snare provided a subtle rhythmic foundation for the saxophone solo.

### 5. medical tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a wire loop used by doctors to remove small growths from the body.

For teachers: a surgical instrument with a wire loop that can be tightened to remove polyps or other small tumours.

- The surgeon used a snare to safely remove the polyp during the procedure.
- Advancements in endoscopic technology have allowed for the development of electrified snares that cauterize tissue as they remove it.

### 6. to catch

verb · CEFR B2

to catch an animal in a trap, or to catch a person by using a trick.

For teachers: to catch or involve someone or something in or as if in a snare; to ensnare.

- The police managed to snare the thief after he tried to sell the stolen watch.
- The company hoped to snare a larger share of the market by launching an aggressive new advertising campaign.

## Examples

- The hunter set a snare in the woods.
- The drummer tightened the wires on his snare to get a crisper sound for the jazz performance.
- While the literal snare was designed for survival in the wild, the term is frequently used as a metaphor for any deceptive situation that catches a person off guard.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.