snag

[snag]

noun

1. 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.

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

3. any sharp or rough projection.

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

5. any obstacle or impediment.

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

verb (used with object)

snagged, snagging 

1. to run or catch up on a snag.

2. to damage by so doing.

3. to obstruct or impede, as a snag does.

   He snagged all my efforts.

4. to grab; seize.

   to snag the last piece of pie.

verb (used without object)

snagged, snagging 

1. to become entangled with some obstacle or hindrance.

2. to become tangled.

   This line snags every time I cast.

3. (of a boat) to strike a snag.

4. to form a snag.

snag

/ snæɡ /

noun

1. a difficulty or disadvantage

   the snag is that I have nothing suitable to wear

2. a sharp protuberance, such as a tree stump

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

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

5. a tree stump in a riverbed that is dangerous to navigation

6. a standing dead tree, esp one used as a perch by an eagle

7. slang,  (plural) sausages

verb

1. (tr) to hinder or impede

2. (tr) to tear or catch (fabric)

3. (intr) to develop a snag

4. (intr) (of a boat) to strike or be damaged by a snag

5. (tr) to clear (a stretch of water) of snags

6. (tr) to seize (an opportunity, benefit, etc)

Other Word Forms

• snaglike adjective
• unsnagged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snag¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of snag¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see hit a snag.

Example Sentences

After snagging celebrity boosters and signing deals with major restaurants and supermarket chains, its valuation soared to more than $10 billion later that year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s “monkey see, monkey do,” she said, adding that she’s seen people nearly come to blows after drivers cut the line to snag a valuable spot.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But financial planners have advice for avoiding common psychological snags.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then there are the logistical snags. Amazon.com ran short on desks, parking and videoconferencing rooms after ordering hundreds of thousands of workers to the office full time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While open enrollment is set to proceed even if the government shutdown continues, there could be some snags.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• barrier 
• bug 
• crunch 
• difficulty 
• disadvantage 
• drawback 
• glitch 
• hitch 
• holdup 
• hurdle 
• impediment 
• inconvenience 
• obstacle 
• stumbling block