emboscar

Emboscar is a Spanish verb that means to lie in wait to attack someone by surprise, to set an ambush, or to trap someone. It is a transitive verb typically used with a direct object, such as a person or a group, and it can describe both military or security actions as well as hunting or strategic situations. Metaphorically, it can refer to figurative traps or schemes.

The word derives from the noun emboscada, meaning ambush. Emboscada refers to the act of lying in wait or an actual ambush, while emboscar denotes the action of arranging or carrying out the ambush. Related forms include emboscado (participial adjective meaning ambushed or trapped), embostar is not standard; emboscador (one who ambushes) and emboscadura (the ambush itself).

Conjugation and usage notes: Emboscar follows regular -ar verb patterns with some spelling changes in the preterite. Present indicative: yo embasco, tú emboscas, él/ella/usted embosca, nosotros emboscamos, vosotros embostáis, ellos emboscan. Preterite: yo embosqué, tú emboscaste, él emboscó, nosotros emboscamos, vosotros embostasteis, ellos emboscaron. Present subjunctive: yo embose, tú emboses, él embose, nosotros embosquemos, vosotros embosquéis, ellos embosen. The gerund is emboscando and the past participle emboscado.

Examples: El ejército emboscó a las tropas enemigas. Un cazador embosca a la presa en la espesura.