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

From cereal to soda, snacks to produce, the pattern is identical.

From MarketWatch

Cheese crackers, deeply toasty and meant for absentminded snacking.

From Salon

Makers of so-called “center aisle” foods, usually processed and ultra-processed foods such as snacks, are already facing difficulties brought by changing consumer preferences.

From MarketWatch

And this month, no extra sweets or snacks were allowed.

From The Wall Street Journal

A small batch can find its way into grain bowls, sandwiches, or just a bowl on the counter for impromptu snacking.

From Salon

Related Words

• lunch
• morsel
• refreshment
• tea