snack

American  

[snak] / snæk /

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.

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verb (used without object)

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

   They snacked on tea and cake.

idioms

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

snack British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to eat a snack

Etymology

Origin of snack

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”

Example Sentences

Shares of some snack food companies sunk to ridiculously cheap valuations.

From MarketWatch

Making popcorn or other snacks part of family movie night creates something to look forward to—and helps keep hands off devices.

From The Wall Street Journal

For most of the past week, that referred almost entirely to the salsa, guacamole, and blue cheese dressing for Super Bowl snacks.

From Barron's

The Super Bowl and the week leading up to the game are peak retail moments for snack and beverage brands as Americans gather for the most-watched annual televised sporting event.

From Barron's

Sam's friend Adam was allergic to orange juice, so at snack time at school Adam always had tomato juice instead.

From Literature

Related Words

• lunch
• morsel
• refreshment
• tea