Meaning & use
snares
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“snares” is a form of “snare”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Traps, usually made of a loop of wire or cord, used to catch small animals.
Grammar: Plural of snare: the hunter set three snares.
Patterns
- set snares
- caught in snares
The farmer set snares near the fence to catch rabbits.
Several foxes were caught in illegal snares.
The path was dotted with hidden snares.
nounpluralfigurativeliterary
Hidden dangers or tricks that catch people unaware.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with of: the snares of fame.
Patterns
- the snares of something
- fall into snares
He warned them about the snares of easy credit.
The contract was full of legal snares.
Young players must avoid the snares of sudden fame.
nounpluralmusic
The wires stretched across the bottom of a drum that give it a sharp buzzing sound.
Grammar: Usually plural: the snares on the drum.
Patterns
- turn the snares off
The drummer switched off the snares for a softer sound.
The snares rattled with every beat.
He tightened the snares on his drum.
verbtransitive
Catches or traps something, with or without a snare; also gets hold of by clever means.
Grammar: Third person singular of snare, and takes an object: she snares a bargain.
Patterns
- snare something
- snare someone in something
She snares the best bargains at every sale.
The sting operation snares dozens of criminals each year.
He snares a ride whenever he stands at the road.
Common combinations
- set snares
- They set snares along the stream.
- wire snares
- The park removed wire snares from the woods.
- snares and traps
- The guide pointed out snares and traps along the trail.
- snares of temptation
- She avoided the snares of temptation.
- snare drum
- The snares on a snare drum give it a crisp sound.
Synonyms and how they differ
- traps
- Is the general word for any device that catches something, while snares are specifically loops that tighten.
- pitfalls
- Refers to hidden dangers in a situation and works only for the figurative sense.
- nets
- Catch by enclosing, not by tightening a loop.
Word family
Commonly confused: snares or snores?
snares vs snores
Snores are noisy sounds made while asleep and have nothing to do with traps or drums.
Practice
Which meaning of snares fits: The drummer turned off the snares for the quiet song?
Choose one answer.
A drummer's snares are the wires across the drumhead. The trap and trick meanings do not make sense in a music context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “snares”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.