# snare

> English word · Noun · IPA /snɛ(ə)ɹ/ · frequency rank #21,069

## Definitions
1. A trap (especially one made from a loop of wire, string, or leather).
2. A mental or psychological trap.
3. A loop of cord used in obstetric cases, to hold or to pull a fetus from the mother animal.
4. A similar looped instrument formerly used to remove tumours etc.
5. A set of stiff wires held under tension against the bottom head of a drum to create a rattling sound.
6. A snare drum.

## Etymology
From Middle English snare, from Old English sneare (“snare, noose”), from Proto-West Germanic *snarhā, from Proto-Germanic *snarhǭ (“a sling; loop; noose”). Cognate with Old Norse snara. Also related to German Schnur and Dutch snaar, snoer.

## Easily confused with
- **Snr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-snr)
- **sure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-sure)
- **star** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-star)
- **sore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-sore)
- **soar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-soar)
- **spar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-spar)
- **state** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-state)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-start)
- **space** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-space)
- **stage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stage)
- **store** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-store)
- **stars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stars)
- **spare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-spare)
- **stake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stake)
- **stark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stark)
- **spark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-spark)
- **stare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stare)
- **swore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-swore)
- **swarm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-swarm)
- **stale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snare-vs-stale)

## Common misspellings (7)
`nsare`, `sanre`, `snaer`, `snarre`, `snnare`, `snrae`, `ssnare`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/snare