snap
snap (snap)
intransitive verb snapped, snap′·ping
- to bring the jaws together sharply; bite suddenly: often with at a fish snaps at bait
- to snatch or grasp quickly or eagerly: with at to snap at a chance
- to speak sharply, abruptly, or irritably: often with at
- to break, part, or be released suddenly, esp. with a sharp, cracking sound
- to give way suddenly under strain, as nerves, resistance, etc.
- to make a sudden, sharp cracking or clicking sound, as a whip
- to close, fasten, go into place, etc. with a snapping sound the lock snapped shut
- to become closed or fastened by means of a snap ()
- to move or act suddenly and smartly to snap to attention
- to appear to flash or sparkle, as in anger: said of the eyes
Etymology: < MDu or MLowG snappen, akin to Ger schnappen < Gmc base *snab-
transitive verb
- to grasp or get suddenly with or as with a bite; snatch: often with up
- to break or sever suddenly or with a snapping sound
- to speak or utter sharply or harshly, as in anger: often with out
- to cause to make a snapping sound to snap one's fingers
- to close, fasten, put into place, etc. with a snapping sound to snap a lid shut
- to strike sharply by releasing one end of something held under tension to snap someone with a rubber band
- to cause to move suddenly and smartly snap the ball to first base
- ☆ to take a snapshot of
- ☆ Football to put (the ball) into play by passing or handing it back between the legs to a member of the offensive backfield: said of the center
noun
- a sudden bite, grasp, snatch, catch, etc.
- a sudden breaking or parting
- a sudden, sharp cracking or clicking sound the snap of a whip
- a short, angry utterance or manner of speaking
- a brief period or spell of cold weather
- any clasp or fastening that closes with a click or snap
- a hard, thin cookie gingersnaps
- ☆ snapshot
- ☆ Informal alertness, vigor, or energy
- ☆ Slang an easy task, job, problem, etc.
- Slang a person who is easy to influence, persuade, control, etc.; tractable person
- ☆ Football the act of snapping the ball
Etymology: MDu snap
adjective
- ☆ made or done quickly or on the spur of the moment without deliberation; impulsive a snap decision
- that fastens with a snap
- ☆ Slang simple; easy a snap assignment
adverb
with, or as with, a snap
not a snap
not a bit; not at all
snap back
to recover quickly from an illness, disappointment, etc.
snap one's fingers at
to show lack of concern for; be careless of or indifferent toward
snap out of it
☆to change suddenly from a bad condition to a better one; recover quickly or regain one's senses
snap someone's head off
to speak sharply or harshly to someone
SNAP (snap)
noun
a small nuclear power source designed to provide electricity for satellites, remote automatic weather stations, etc.
Etymology: s(ystems for) n(uclear) a(uxiliary) p(ower)
Object
- turtle: No more losses to snapping turtles, huge bullfrogs and water snakes, kingfishers and herons.
- finger: She never suffers the dramatic hurts, never breaks anything proper, never snaps fingers or wrists when she tumbles off her bike.
- photo: Each time one of the creatures rose out of the water, she snapped a photo.
Preposition: at
- heel: Focus is snapping hard at the heels of B&Q, the giant of DIY retailing.
Adjective modifier
- cold: Very mild second week followed by a cold snap in the third week.
- sudden: This time his skill was greater or his tool was better, for there was a sudden snap and the creak of the hinges.
Modifies a noun
- fastener: Made from heavy duty vinyl with snap fastener and printed with your bike logo.
- pea: Sauté the carrots for about 1 minute, add the Chinese cabbage and then the snap peas.
- shot: Click here to see a snap shot of our work.
- closure: The Loopy Links Garden and Loopy Links Zoo support toddlers' love of linking and feature boldly colored and patterned loops with magnetic snap closures.
- fastening: This Lampshade is made from weaved newspaper with chrome snap fastenings around the top and bottom.
- judgment: The snap judgment that he was not to be messed with was spot on.
Noun used with modifier
- ginger: Cookie giggled and said, I'm a ginger snap!
- sugar: Then stir in 2 teaspoons of horseradish mustard and a handful of chopped fresh sugar snap peas.
Particle object:
- bargain: Hundreds of customers snapped up the bargain, but the orders will not be honored.
Preposition: in
- booster: Because it has the snap in booster, it can quite easily cope as an overnight diaper.
Preposition: of
- twig: The rasp of his hand against the material made him almost miss the approaching footsteps and snap of a twig.
- finger: Ready at the snap of a finger: the new ease in projecting.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- up: Even with just 150 tickets which were snapped up within hours, the club was packed by the time the band opened their set.
Preposition: up
- bargain: On Tuesdays and Fridays, Tuesday Market Place is bustling with shoppers keen to snap up a bargain.
Browse dictionary entries near snap
- snaky
- snakeweed
- snakeskin
- snakes and ladders
- snakeroot
- snakemouth
- snakehead
- snakebite
- snakebit
- snakebird
- snap at
- snap back
- snap bean
- snap-brim hat
- snap decision
- snap one's fingers at
- snap out of it
- snap roll
- snapback
- snapdragon
