Which of the following is a meaning of 'mire'?

• A. to entangle or trap
• B. to cause to stick or get stuck
• C. to soil or stain with mud
• D. to travel rapidly

Answer: (A)

Mire as a verb carries the idea of causing something to become stuck or entangled, either physically in mud or figuratively in a difficult situation. The meaning that best fits this sense is to entangle or trap, because it directly conveys being held back or blocked by something, which is the core image of mire. When you hear phrases like “The car was mired in mud” or “She was mired in debt,” the sense is about getting stuck and unable to move forward, which aligns with entangling or trapping. The notion of “to stick or get stuck” is related, but it’s more about the result of being in mud, whereas mire fundamentally implies the state of being stuck or entangled. The noun mire also refers to swampy ground, which helps you picture the literal version of getting stuck.