snag

[ snag ]

/ snæg /

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See synonyms for: snag / snagged / snagging on Thesaurus.com

noun

a tree or part of a tree held fast in the bottom of a river, lake, etc., and forming an impediment or danger to navigation.

a short, projecting stump, as of a branch broken or cut off.

any sharp or rough projection.

a jagged hole, tear, pull, or run in a fabric, as caused by catching on a sharp projection.

any obstacle or impediment.

a stump of a tooth or a projecting tooth; snaggletooth.

verb (used with object), snagged, snag·ging.

to run or catch up on a snag.

to damage by so doing.

to obstruct or impede, as a snag does: He snagged all my efforts.

to grab; seize: to snag the last piece of pie.

verb (used without object), snagged, snag·ging.

to become entangled with some obstacle or hindrance.

to become tangled: This line snags every time I cast.

(of a boat) to strike a snag.

to form a snag.

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Origin of snag

First recorded in 1570–80, snag is from the Old Norse word snagi point, projection

OTHER WORDS FROM snag

snaglike, adjectiveun·snagged, adjective

Words nearby snag

snack bar, snackette, snack table, snaffle, snafu, snag, snaggletooth, snaggy, snail, snail cam, snail darter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use snag in a sentence

Development of an AR headset at Apple seems to have hit a snag or two under current project lead Mike Rockwell, though the report does not outline exactly which obstacles have emerged.
Apple hardware chief Dan Riccio stepped down to focus on AR/VR|Samuel Axon|February 8, 2021|Ars Technica
I babied mine and still saw a few small snags while bushwhacking.
Do You Actually Need a 1,000-Fill Down Jacket?|Ryan Wichelns|December 23, 2020|Outside Online
It was inspiring to see how our customers reacted when we’d hit snags, like a shipping delay.
This new sneaker brand is meant for health care workers|Rachel King|December 6, 2020|Fortune
The snag is that the nonmedical part of the world has to buy in, too.
New guidance on brain death could ease debate over when life ends|Laura Sanders|August 10, 2020|Science News

By May, those efforts seemed to hit a snag when the Housing Commission decided not to move forward with 10 hotel properties it had initially eyed.
Morning Report: The Seditious Language Law’s Origin Story|Voice of San Diego|August 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
He was 19, and managed to snag a summer internship with New Line Cinema.
‘Mockingjay’s’ Mastermind: Francis Lawrence on the Book vs. Movie, ISIS Parallels, and More|Marlow Stern|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The wire is long gone, but a rusted snag remains entombed in the bark.
How the Kings of Fracking Double-Crossed Their Way to Riches|ProPublica|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a snag because Chan lives across the border, where the Hong Kong Dollar is used.
Inside China's Underground Black Market Banks|Brendon Hong|February 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over the last four years, however, the process has hit a snag.
As GOP Senators Block Obama’s Nominees, Democrats Prepare ‘Nuclear Option’|Jamelle Bouie|May 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Luz gets away and hires Malone to take her over the border, where Thacker and others are waiting to snag her.
This Week’s Hot Reads: May 20, 2013|Cameron Martin, Jessica Ferri, Jimmy So|May 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We made an extra steering-oar, too, because one of the others might get broke on a snag or something.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Imbedded in this bar was a long white snag, a tree trunk whose naked arms, thrusting far down stream, had literally impaled us.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough
After that I waded back to the snag carefully, and once more ordered the young woman to come to me.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough
At length I crept to the snag and beat against it with my cane.
Birds of the Rockies|Leander Sylvester Keyser
Down the road arose sharp words of command, and the burning top of a tall pine snag threw its light upon bayonets in the highway.
An Arkansas Planter|Opie Percival Read

British Dictionary definitions for snag

snag

/ (snæɡ) /

noun

a difficulty or disadvantagethe snag is that I have nothing suitable to wear

a sharp protuberance, such as a tree stump

a small loop or hole in a fabric caused by a sharp object

engineering a projection that brings to a stop a sliding or rotating component

mainly US and Canadian a tree stump in a riverbed that is dangerous to navigation

US and Canadian a standing dead tree, esp one used as a perch by an eagle

(plural) Australian slang sausages

verb snags, snagging or snagged

(tr) to hinder or impede

(tr) to tear or catch (fabric)

(intr) to develop a snag

(intr) mainly US and Canadian (of a boat) to strike or be damaged by a snag

(tr) mainly US and Canadian to clear (a stretch of water) of snags

(tr) US to seize (an opportunity, benefit, etc)

Derived forms of snag

snaglike, adjective

Word Origin for snag

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse snaghyrndr sharp-pointed, Norwegian snage spike, Icelandic snagi peg

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with snag

snag

see hit a snag.

snag

Origin of snag

OTHER WORDS FROM snag

Words nearby snag

Words related to snag

How to use snag in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for snag

Derived forms of snag

Word Origin for snag

Other Idioms and Phrases with snag