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snap

Syllabification: (snap)
Pronunciation: /snap/
Translate snap | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of snap

verb (snaps, snapping, snapped)

  • 1break or cause to break suddenly and completely, typically with a sharp cracking sound: [no object]:guitar strings kept snapping [with object]:dead twigs can be snapped off
  • [no object] emit a sudden, sharp cracking sound:banners snapping in the breeze
  • [no object] (of an animal) make a sudden audible bite:a dog was snapping at his heels
  • [with object or adverbial] cause to move or alter in a specified way with a brisk movement and typically a sharp sound:Rosa snapped her bag shut
  • [no object]his mouth snapped into a tight, straight line
  • [no object] suddenly lose one’s self-control:she claims she snapped after years of violence
  • [reporting verb] say something quickly and irritably to someone: [no object]:McIllvanney snapped at her [with direct speech]:“I really don’t much care,” she snapped
  • 2 [with object] take a snapshot of:he planned to spend the time snapping rare wildlife [no object]:photographers were snapping away at her
  • 3 [with object] Football put (the ball) into play by a quick backward movement from the ground.
  • 4 [with object] fasten with snaps:he pulled a white rubber swim hat over his head and snapped it under his chin

noun

  • 1a sudden, sharp cracking sound or movement:she closed her purse with a snap
  • [in singular] a hurried, irritable tone or manner:“I’m still waiting,” he said with a snap
  • vigor or liveliness of style or action; zest:the snap of the dialogue
  • 2 (usually snaps) North American a small fastener on clothing, engaged by pressing its two halves together.
  • 3 [in singular] North American informal an easy task:a control panel that makes operation a snap
  • 4 Football a quick backward movement of the ball from the ground that begins a play.
  • 5a snapshot.
  • 6British a card game in which cards from two piles are turned over simultaneously and players call “snap” as quickly as possible when two similar cards are exposed.

adjective

[attributive]
  • done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice:a snap judgment he could call a snap election

Phrases

in a snap

informal, chiefly North American in a moment; almost immediately:gourmet-quality meals are ready in a snap

oh snap

informal an exclamation of agreement or acknowledgment, often used in response to an insult:Since you’re an agent, maybe you should worry about your own clients! Oh snap, I forgot you don’t have any

snap one's fingers

make a sharp clicking sound by bending the last joint of the middle finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it, typically in order to attract attention in a peremptory way or to accompany the beat of music.

snap someone's head off

see head.

Phrasal Verbs

snap back

recover quickly and easily from an illness or period of difficulty:our bodies can snap back pretty well from short-term bouts of stress

snap out of

[often in imperative] informal get out of (a bad or unhappy mood) by a sudden effort:come on, Fran—snap out of it!

snap something up

quickly and eagerly buy or secure something that is in short supply or being sold cheaply:all the tickets have been snapped up

Derivatives

snappingly

adverb

Origin:

late 15th century (in the senses 'make a sudden audible bite' and 'quick sharp biting sound'): probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German snappen 'seize'; partly imitative

snap in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of snap in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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