BOOBY TRAP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does booby trap mean? 

• BOOBY TRAP (noun)
  The noun BOOBY TRAP has 2 senses:

1. an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over

2. an unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty

  Familiarity information: BOOBY TRAP used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BOOBY TRAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

booby trap; ground-emplaced mine; land mine

Hypernyms ("booby trap" is a kind of...):

mine (explosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "booby trap"):

bouncing betty (an antipersonnel land mine)

claymore; claymore mine (an antipersonnel land mine whose blast is aimed at the oncoming enemy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

booby trap; pitfall

Hypernyms ("booby trap" is a kind of...):

difficulty (a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result)