"pitfall" meaning in English

See pitfall in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈpɪtfɔːl/ [UK], /ˈpɪtfɔl/ [US] Audio: en-us-pitfall.ogg [US] Forms: pitfalls [plural]
enPR: pĭtʹfôl, pĭtʹfäl Etymology: First recorded use in the 14th century from pit + fall in the sense of "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”). Etymology templates: {{compound|en|pit|fall}} pit + fall, {{inh|en|ang|fealle|t=trap, snare}} Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), {{inh|en|gem-pro|*fallą}} Proto-Germanic *fallą, {{m|gem-pro|*fallaz|t=a fall, trap}} *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), {{der|en|ine-pro|*(s)pōl-}} Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-, {{cog|de|Falle|t=trap, snare}} German Falle (“trap, snare”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} pitfall (plural pitfalls)
  1. (figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious. Tags: figuratively Synonyms: trap Translations (potential problem, hazard, or danger): σιρός (sirós) [masculine] (Ancient Greek), клопка (klopka) [feminine] (Bulgarian), escull [masculine] (Catalan), 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) (Chinese Mandarin), faldgrube [common-gender] (Danish), fælde [common-gender] (Danish), valkuil [masculine] (Dutch), kaptilo (Esperanto), sudenkuoppa (Finnish), vaara (Finnish), riski (Finnish), écueil [masculine] (French), piège [masculine] (French), Fallstrick [masculine] (German), csapda (Hungarian), kelepce (Hungarian), buktató (Hungarian), gaiste [masculine] (Irish), pericolo [masculine] (Italian), insidia [feminine] (Italian), 落とし穴 (otoshiana) (alt: おとしあな) (Japanese), 落し穴 (otoshiana) (alt: おとしあな) (Japanese), 落穴 (otoshiana) (alt: おとしあな) (Japanese), fovea [feminine] (Latin), fallgruve [feminine, masculine] (Norwegian Bokmål), fallgruve [feminine] (Norwegian Nynorsk), مشکل (moškel) (Persian), خطر (xatar) (Persian), cilada [feminine] (Portuguese), armadilha [feminine] (Portuguese), лову́шка (lovúška) [feminine] (Russian), западня́ (zapadnjá) [feminine] (Russian), подво́дные ка́мни (podvódnyje kámni) (english: underwater stones, reefs) [masculine, plural] (Russian), nástraha (Slovak), obstáculo [masculine] (Spanish), trampa [feminine] (Spanish), asechanza (Spanish), fälla [common-gender] (Swedish), fallgrop [common-gender] (Swedish), magl [feminine] (Welsh)
    Sense id: en-pitfall-en-noun-jDXI0elZ Disambiguation of 'potential problem, hazard, or danger': 77 3 12 7
  2. (literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from. Synonyms: trapping pit Translations (trapping pit): λάπαθος (lápathos) [masculine] (Ancient Greek), σιρός (sirós) [masculine] (Ancient Greek), вълча яма (vǎlča jama) [feminine] (Bulgarian), faldgrube [common-gender] (Danish), valkuil [masculine] (Dutch), enfalujo (Esperanto), veiðigrøv [feminine] (Faroese), ansakuoppa (Finnish), trappe [feminine] (French), chausse-trape [feminine] (French), Fallgrube [feminine] (German), Fanggrube [feminine] (German), Wildgrube [feminine] (German), verem (Hungarian), csapda (Hungarian), trappola [feminine] (Italian), trabocchetto [masculine] (Italian), tranello [masculine] (Italian), pokereti (Maori), fangstgrop (Norwegian), fangstgrav (Norwegian), fojo [masculine] (Portuguese), trampa [feminine] (Spanish), fångstgrop [common-gender] (Swedish), fallgrop (Swedish), bratbwll [masculine] (Welsh)
    Sense id: en-pitfall-en-noun-mbp6FHim Disambiguation of 'trapping pit': 12 76 4 7
  3. (computing) An antipattern. Categories (topical): Computing Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern
    Sense id: en-pitfall-en-noun-5pWDq9qE Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English links with redundant alt parameters Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 28 22 42 8 Disambiguation of English links with redundant alt parameters: 20 25 45 10 Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
  4. (mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop. Categories (topical): Mining
    Sense id: en-pitfall-en-noun-IM8DgkB9 Topics: business, mining
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Hyponyms: ifs, ands, or buts Derived forms: pitfall and gin, pitfalled

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for pitfall meaning in English (14.0kB)

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "pitfall and gin"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "pitfalled"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pit",
        "3": "fall"
      },
      "expansion": "pit + fall",
      "name": "compound"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "fealle",
        "t": "trap, snare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English fealle (“trap, snare”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*fallą"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *fallą",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "gem-pro",
        "2": "*fallaz",
        "t": "a fall, trap"
      },
      "expansion": "*fallaz (“a fall, trap”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*(s)pōl-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Falle",
        "t": "trap, snare"
      },
      "expansion": "German Falle (“trap, snare”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "First recorded use in the 14th century from pit + fall in the sense of \"pit trap, pit snare\", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "pitfalls",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "pitfall (plural pitfalls)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyponyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ifs, ands, or buts"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious."
      ],
      "id": "en-pitfall-en-noun-jDXI0elZ",
      "links": [
        [
          "problem",
          "problem"
        ],
        [
          "hazard",
          "hazard"
        ],
        [
          "danger",
          "danger"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trap"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "klopka",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "клопка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "escull"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "xiànjǐng",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "陷阱"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "faldgrube"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "fælde"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "valkuil"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "kaptilo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "sudenkuoppa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "vaara"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "riski"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "écueil"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "piège"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Fallstrick"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "sirós",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "σιρός"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "csapda"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "kelepce"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "buktató"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "gaiste"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "pericolo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "insidia"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "alt": "おとしあな",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "otoshiana",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "落とし穴"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "alt": "おとしあな",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "otoshiana",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "落し穴"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "alt": "おとしあな",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "otoshiana",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "落穴"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "fovea"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "nb",
          "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "fallgruve"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "nn",
          "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "fallgruve"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "moškel",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "مشکل"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "xatar",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "خطر"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "cilada"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "armadilha"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "lovúška",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "лову́шка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zapadnjá",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "западня́"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "english": "underwater stones, reefs",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "podvódnyje kámni",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine",
            "plural"
          ],
          "word": "подво́дные ка́мни"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "nástraha"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "obstáculo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "trampa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "word": "asechanza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "fälla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "fallgrop"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "77 3 12 7",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "magl"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from."
      ],
      "id": "en-pitfall-en-noun-mbp6FHim",
      "links": [
        [
          "trap",
          "trap"
        ],
        [
          "conceal",
          "conceal"
        ],
        [
          "pit",
          "pit"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "literal",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trapping pit"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "vǎlča jama",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "вълча яма"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "faldgrube"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "valkuil"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "enfalujo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "fo",
          "lang": "Faroese",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "veiðigrøv"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "ansakuoppa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "trappe"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "chausse-trape"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Fallgrube"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Fanggrube"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Wildgrube"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "lápathos",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "λάπαθος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "sirós",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "σιρός"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "verem"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "csapda"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "trappola"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "trabocchetto"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "tranello"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "pokereti"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "fangstgrop"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "fangstgrav"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "fojo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "trampa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "fångstgrop"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "word": "fallgrop"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "12 76 4 7",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "trapping pit",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "bratbwll"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Computing",
          "orig": "en:Computing",
          "parents": [
            "Technology",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 22 42 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 25 45 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English links with redundant alt parameters",
          "parents": [
            "Links with redundant alt parameters",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An antipattern."
      ],
      "id": "en-pitfall-en-noun-5pWDq9qE",
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "antipattern",
          "antipattern"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing) An antipattern."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "antipattern"
        },
        {
          "word": "dark pattern"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Mining",
          "orig": "en:Mining",
          "parents": [
            "Industries",
            "Business",
            "Economics",
            "Society",
            "Social sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456",
          "text": "This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop."
      ],
      "id": "en-pitfall-en-noun-IM8DgkB9",
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "Subsidence",
          "subsidence"
        ],
        [
          "mine",
          "mine"
        ],
        [
          "ground level",
          "ground level"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈpɪtfɔːl/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈpɪtfɔl/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-pitfall.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f0/En-us-pitfall.ogg/En-us-pitfall.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/En-us-pitfall.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "pĭtʹfôl"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "pĭtʹfäl"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "pitfall trap",
    "trapping pit"
  ],
  "word": "pitfall"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 2-syllable words",
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English links with redundant alt parameters",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Old English",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms inherited from Old English",
    "English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "pitfall and gin"
    },
    {
      "word": "pitfalled"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pit",
        "3": "fall"
      },
      "expansion": "pit + fall",
      "name": "compound"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "fealle",
        "t": "trap, snare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English fealle (“trap, snare”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*fallą"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *fallą",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "gem-pro",
        "2": "*fallaz",
        "t": "a fall, trap"
      },
      "expansion": "*fallaz (“a fall, trap”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*(s)pōl-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Falle",
        "t": "trap, snare"
      },
      "expansion": "German Falle (“trap, snare”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "First recorded use in the 14th century from pit + fall in the sense of \"pit trap, pit snare\", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "pitfalls",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "pitfall (plural pitfalls)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyponyms": [
    {
      "word": "ifs, ands, or buts"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "problem",
          "problem"
        ],
        [
          "hazard",
          "hazard"
        ],
        [
          "danger",
          "danger"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trap"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "trap",
          "trap"
        ],
        [
          "conceal",
          "conceal"
        ],
        [
          "pit",
          "pit"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "literal",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trapping pit"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Computing"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An antipattern."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "antipattern",
          "antipattern"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing) An antipattern."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "antipattern"
        },
        {
          "word": "dark pattern"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Mining"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456",
          "text": "This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "Subsidence",
          "subsidence"
        ],
        [
          "mine",
          "mine"
        ],
        [
          "ground level",
          "ground level"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈpɪtfɔːl/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈpɪtfɔl/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-pitfall.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f0/En-us-pitfall.ogg/En-us-pitfall.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/En-us-pitfall.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "pĭtʹfôl"
    },
    {
      "enpr": "pĭtʹfäl"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "klopka",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "клопка"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "escull"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "xiànjǐng",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "陷阱"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "faldgrube"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "fælde"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "valkuil"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "kaptilo"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "sudenkuoppa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "vaara"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "riski"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "écueil"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "piège"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Fallstrick"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "sirós",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "σιρός"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "csapda"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "kelepce"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "buktató"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "gaiste"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "pericolo"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "insidia"
    },
    {
      "alt": "おとしあな",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "otoshiana",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "落とし穴"
    },
    {
      "alt": "おとしあな",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "otoshiana",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "落し穴"
    },
    {
      "alt": "おとしあな",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "otoshiana",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "落穴"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "fovea"
    },
    {
      "code": "nb",
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "fallgruve"
    },
    {
      "code": "nn",
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "fallgruve"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "moškel",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "مشکل"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "xatar",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "خطر"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "cilada"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "armadilha"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "lovúška",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "лову́шка"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zapadnjá",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "западня́"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "english": "underwater stones, reefs",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "podvódnyje kámni",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine",
        "plural"
      ],
      "word": "подво́дные ка́мни"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "nástraha"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "obstáculo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "trampa"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "word": "asechanza"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "fälla"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "fallgrop"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "potential problem, hazard, or danger",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "magl"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "vǎlča jama",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "вълча яма"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "faldgrube"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "valkuil"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "enfalujo"
    },
    {
      "code": "fo",
      "lang": "Faroese",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "veiðigrøv"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "ansakuoppa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "trappe"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "chausse-trape"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Fallgrube"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Fanggrube"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Wildgrube"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "lápathos",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "λάπαθος"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "sirós",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "σιρός"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "verem"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "csapda"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "trappola"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "trabocchetto"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "tranello"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "pokereti"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "fangstgrop"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "fangstgrav"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "fojo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "trampa"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "fångstgrop"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "word": "fallgrop"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "trapping pit",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "bratbwll"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "pitfall trap",
    "trapping pit"
  ],
  "word": "pitfall"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-17 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-01 using wiktextract (0b52755 and 5cb0836). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.