snap

[ snap ]
See synonyms for snap on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),snapped, snap·ping.
  1. to make a sudden, sharp, distinct sound; crack, as a whip; crackle.

  2. to click, as a mechanism or the jaws or teeth coming together.

  1. to move, strike, shut, catch, etc., with a sharp sound, as a door, lid, or lock.

  2. to break suddenly, especially with a sharp, cracking sound, as something slender and brittle: The branch snapped.

  3. to act or move with quick or abrupt motions of the body: to snap to attention.

  4. to take a photograph, especially without formal posing of the subject.

  5. to make a quick or sudden bite or grab (often followed by at).

  6. to utter a quick, sharp sentence or speech, especially a command, reproof, retort, etc. (often followed by at).

  7. to be radiant; sparkle; flash, as the eyes.

verb (used with object),snapped, snap·ping.
  1. to seize with or take, buy, or obtain as with a quick bite or grab (followed by up or off): The bargains were snapped up.

  2. to secure, judge, vote, etc., hastily: They snapped the bill through Congress.

  1. to cause to make a sudden, sharp sound: to snap one's fingers.

  2. to crack (a whip).

  3. to bring, strike, shut, open, operate, etc., with a sharp sound or movement: to snap a lid down.

  4. to address or interrupt (a person) quickly and sharply.

  5. to say or utter (words, a command, a retort, etc.) in a quick, sharp manner: to snap complaints.

  6. to break suddenly, especially with a cracking sound: to snap a stick in half.

  7. to take a photograph of, especially quickly.

  8. Digital Technology. to move (an icon, line, window, or other displayed item) instantly and automatically into alignment with a grid or into a predetermined position, as to a corner or edge of the screen.

  9. Digital Technology. to use a smartphone or other digital device to scan (a QR code or other source) in order to read the encoded text or URL and to browse the hyperlinked website or web page.

  10. Building Trades. to transfer (a line) to a surface by means of a chalk line.

  11. Football. to put (the ball) into play by tossing it back to the quarterback or other member of the offensive backfield, especially from between the legs when bent over double and facing the line of scrimmage; center.

  12. Hunting. to fire (a shot) quickly, especially without raising the gun to aim from the eye.

noun
  1. a quick, sudden action or movement, as the flick of a whip or the breaking of a twig.

  2. a short, sharp sound, as that caused by breaking a twig or closing a latch.

  1. a catch or fastener that closes by pressure and clicks together.

  2. Informal. briskness, vigor, or energy: That song has a lot of snap.

  3. a quick, sharp speech or manner of speaking: He uttered his commands with a snap.

  4. a quick or sudden bite or grab, as at something: The fish ate with little snaps.

  5. something obtained by or as by biting or grabbing: a snap of food.

  6. a brittle cookie.

  7. a short spell or period, as of cold weather: an unexpected cold snap.

  8. Informal. an easy, profitable, or agreeable position, piece of work, or the like: This job is a snap.

  9. Football. the act or an instance of snapping the ball.

  10. British. a packed lunch, as that carried by a worker or traveler.

adjective
  1. fastening or closing with a click or snap, as a device fitted with a spring catch: a snap lock.

  2. made, done, taken, etc., suddenly, offhand, or without warning: a snap judgment;a snap election called years ahead of schedule.

  1. easy or simple.

adverb
  1. in a brisk, sudden manner.

interjection
  1. (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, regret, disappointment, etc.): Oh snap! I forgot we had a test today!

Verb Phrases
  1. snap to,

    • to come to attention: The troops snapped to when the colonel walked in.

    • to shape up: If you don't snap to and study, you'll flunk the course.

Idioms about snap

  1. not give / care a snap of one's fingers for, to regard with indifference; treat lightly.: Also not give / care a snap .

  2. snap one's fingers at. finger (def. 25).

  1. snap out of, to free oneself from; recover from: It took him a long time to snap out of his grief.

  2. snap / bite someone's head off. bite (def. 33).

Origin of snap

1
First recorded in 1485–95; from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German snappen “to bite, seize”

Other words from snap

  • snap·less, adjective
  • snap·pa·ble, adjective
  • snap·ping·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with snap

Words Nearby snap

Other definitions for SNAP (2 of 2)

SNAP
[ snap ]

noun
  1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: a federal program for low-income Americans that provides them with electronically deposited benefits to pay for food, as at grocery stores or markets.

Origin of SNAP

2
First recorded in 2005–10

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use snap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for snap

snap

/ (snæp) /


verbsnaps, snapping or snapped
  1. to break or cause to break suddenly, esp with a sharp sound

  2. to make or cause to make a sudden sharp cracking sound

  1. (intr) to give way or collapse suddenly, esp from strain

  2. to move, close, etc, or cause to move, close, etc, with a sudden sharp sound

  3. to move or cause to move in a sudden or abrupt way

  4. (intr; often foll by at or up) to seize something suddenly or quickly

  5. (when intr, often foll by at) to bite at (something) bringing the jaws rapidly together

  6. to speak (words) sharply or abruptly

  7. (intr) (of eyes) to flash or sparkle

  8. to take a snapshot of (something)

  9. (intr) hunting to fire a quick shot without taking deliberate aim

  10. (tr) American football to put (the ball) into play by sending it back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

  11. snap one's fingers at informal

    • to dismiss with contempt

    • to defy

  12. snap out of it informal to recover quickly, esp from depression, anger, or illness

noun
  1. the act of breaking suddenly or the sound produced by a sudden breakage

  2. a sudden sharp sound, esp of bursting, popping, or cracking

  1. a catch, clasp, or fastener that operates with a snapping sound

  2. a sudden grab or bite

  3. the sudden release of something such as elastic thread

  4. a brisk movement of the thumb against one or more fingers

  5. a thin crisp biscuit: ginger snaps

  6. informal See snapshot

  7. informal vigour, liveliness, or energy

  8. informal a task or job that is easy or profitable to do

  9. a short spell or period, esp of cold weather

  10. British dialect food, esp a packed lunch taken to work

  11. British a card game in which the word snap is called when two cards of equal value are turned up on the separate piles dealt by each player

  12. American football the start of each play when the centre passes the ball back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

  13. (modifier) done on the spur of the moment, without consideration or warning: a snap decision

  14. (modifier) closed or fastened with a snap

adverb
  1. with a snap

interjection
    • cards the word called while playing snap

    • an exclamation used to draw attention to the similarity of two things

Origin of snap

1
C15: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snappen to seize; related to Old Norse snapa to snuffle

Derived forms of snap

  • snapless, adjective
  • snappable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012