snack

[ snak ]

noun

1. a small portion of food or drink or a light meal, especially one eaten between regular meals.
2. a share or portion.
3. Slang. a sexy and physically attractive person; hottie.
4. Australian Slang. something easily done.

verb (used without object)

1. to have a snack or light meal, especially between regular meals:

   They snacked on tea and cake.

snack

/ snæk /

noun

1. a light quick meal eaten between or in place of main meals
2. a sip or bite
3. rare.
   a share
4. informal.
   a very easy task

verb

1. intr to eat a snack

Word History and Origins

Origin of snack¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb snacchen, snac(c)he, snak “(of a dog) to snap at, bite, seize”; Middle English noun snacche, snak(e); further origin uncertain; compare Middle Dutch snacken “(of a dog) to snap”: Norwegian dialect snaka “(of an animal) to snatch”

Word History and Origins

Origin of snack¹

C15: probably from Middle Dutch snacken, variant of snappen to snap

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go snack / snacks, Archaic. to share profits or returns.

Example Sentences

She also suggests leaving around special toys and snacks for when you leave, so that your cat or dog associates something positive with that alone time.

From Popular-Science

Furthermore, essentials such as snacks, water, first-aid and outage information will be offered at drive-in community resource centers during outages this year.

From Voice of San Diego

Partnerships for some General Mills brands like fruit snack Lärabar already favor micro-influencers over celebrities.

From Digiday

An unwitting nose scratch, eye rub or finger-food snack could then infect the new person.

From Science News For Students

It’s prototyped in a lab in the same way that snacks are prototyped in a lab.

From Freakonomics

Late former governors of NY, TX starred in a 1994 snack chip ad.

From The Daily Beast

The popular snack has also struck a cord with Paleo dieters, according to Lewis.

From The Daily Beast

And the “Pond Pit” snack bar will serve fried tadpole rolls.

From The Daily Beast

Badlands ate, slowly at first; this was a casual snack after all, not a contest.

From The Daily Beast

But that changed in the 19th century, when two important developments helped make ice cream the ubiquitous snack it is today.

From The Daily Beast

He put his arm around her and they entered the snack bar that way.

From Project Gutenberg

But he took one man with him and a “snack” of supper in their pockets.

From Project Gutenberg

Then they had a hurried snack, and rode off—two very wet police—to find some safer and more open locality for their night camp.

From Project Gutenberg

Not that he ever did feel a bit peckish after the hearty snack, for his sandwich was pecked by the four young Seasons at home.

From Project Gutenberg

"I aims ter start right now, es soon es I kin buy a snack ter put in my pocket," he announced decisively.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lunch
• morsel
• refreshment
• tea