snap

[ snap ]

/ snæp /

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See synonyms for snap on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), snapped, snap·ping.

to make a sudden, sharp, distinct sound; crack, as a whip; crackle.

to click, as a mechanism or the jaws or teeth coming together.

to move, strike, shut, catch, etc., with a sharp sound, as a door, lid, or lock.

to break suddenly, especially with a sharp, cracking sound, as something slender and brittle: The branch snapped.

to act or move with quick or abrupt motions of the body: to snap to attention.

to take a photograph, especially without formal posing of the subject.

to make a quick or sudden bite or grab (often followed by at).

to utter a quick, sharp sentence or speech, especially a command, reproof, retort, etc. (often followed by at).

to be radiant; sparkle; flash, as the eyes.

verb (used with object), snapped, snap·ping.

to seize with or take, buy, or obtain as with a quick bite or grab (followed by up or off): The bargains were snapped up.

to secure, judge, vote, etc., hastily: They snapped the bill through Congress.

to cause to make a sudden, sharp sound: to snap one's fingers.

to crack (a whip).

to bring, strike, shut, open, operate, etc., with a sharp sound or movement: to snap a lid down.

to address or interrupt (a person) quickly and sharply.

to say or utter (words, a command, a retort, etc.) in a quick, sharp manner: to snap complaints.

to break suddenly, especially with a cracking sound: to snap a stick in half.

to take a photograph of, especially quickly.

Digital Technology. to move (an icon, line, window, or other displayed item) instantly and automatically into alignment with a grid or into a predetermined position, as to a corner or edge of the screen.

Digital Technology. to use a smartphone or other digital device to scan (a QR code or other source) in order to read the encoded text or URL and to browse the hyperlinked website or web page.

Building Trades. to transfer (a line) to a surface by means of a chalk line.

Football. to put (the ball) into play by tossing it back to the quarterback or other member of the offensive backfield, especially from between the legs when bent over double and facing the line of scrimmage; center.

Hunting. to fire (a shot) quickly, especially without raising the gun to aim from the eye.

noun

a quick, sudden action or movement, as the flick of a whip or the breaking of a twig.

a short, sharp sound, as that caused by breaking a twig or closing a latch.

a catch or fastener that closes by pressure and clicks together.

Informal. briskness, vigor, or energy: That song has a lot of snap.

a quick, sharp speech or manner of speaking: He uttered his commands with a snap.

a quick or sudden bite or grab, as at something: The fish ate with little snaps.

something obtained by or as by biting or grabbing: a snap of food.

a brittle cookie.

a short spell or period, as of cold weather: an unexpected cold snap.

snapshot (def. 1).

Informal. an easy, profitable, or agreeable position, piece of work, or the like: This job is a snap.

Football. the act or an instance of snapping the ball.

snap bean.

Informal. snapdragon (def. 1).

British. a packed lunch, as that carried by a worker or traveler.

adjective

fastening or closing with a click or snap, as a device fitted with a spring catch: a snap lock.

made, done, taken, etc., suddenly, offhand, or without warning: a snap judgment;a snap election called years ahead of schedule.

easy or simple.

adverb

in a brisk, sudden manner.

interjection

(an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, regret, disappointment, etc.): Oh snap! I forgot we had a test today!

Verb Phrases

snap to,

to come to attention: The troops snapped to when the colonel walked in.
to shape up: If you don't snap to and study, you'll flunk the course.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about snap

not give / care a snap of one's fingers for, to regard with indifference; treat lightly.Also not give / care a snap .

snap one's fingers at. finger (def. 25).

snap out of, to free oneself from; recover from: It took him a long time to snap out of his grief.

snap / bite someone's head off. bite (def. 33).

Origin of snap

First recorded in 1485–95; from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German snappen “to bite, seize”

OTHER WORDS FROM snap

snap·less, adjectivesnap·pa·ble, adjectivesnap·ping·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH snap

schnapps, snaps

Other definitions for snap (2 of 2)

SNAP

[ snap ]

/ snæp /

noun

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: a federal program for low-income Americans that provides them with electronically deposited benefits to pay for food, as at grocery stores or markets.

Origin of SNAP

First recorded in 2005–10

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use snap in a sentence

The user swirls the swab in a vial of chemicals that sits atop a sleek base, snaps the lid shut, and waits 30 minutes.
The FDA just okayed a rapid at-home COVID test—but it won’t work for everyone|Tara Santora|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
His replacement, Cornelius Lucas, missed the final 24 snaps of Sunday’s loss at the Detroit Lions because of an ankle injury.
Washington is now down to its fourth option at left tackle: Right tackle Morgan Moses|Nicki Jhabvala|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
He noticed the painful silences early in the game and cringed at those times he cut himself off, worried he’d talk over the snap.
Inside Aqib Talib’s ‘raw’ but ‘real’ NFL announcing debut|Les Carpenter|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
The report draws on February data from agencies in 11 states that administer Medicaid and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, or food stamps.
Walmart and McDonald’s have the most workers on food stamps and Medicaid, new study shows|Eli Rosenberg|November 18, 2020|Washington Post

Each agency in those states reported back the 25 most common employers of Medicaid enrollees and SNAP recipients.
Walmart and McDonald’s have the most workers on food stamps and Medicaid, new study shows|Eli Rosenberg|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
They are always suspended over a precipice, dangling by a slender thread that shows every sign of snapping.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Emil Axelsson recreates the classic melody using only his fingers and their super-snapping abilities.
Viral Video of the Day: Fingersnapping Super Mario|The Daily Beast Video|April 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were greeted by the ever-scruffy director, who can be seen in the picture above snapping a shot on his camera phone.
Prince William: How Do You Fly This Thing?|Tom Sykes|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You may think snapping food photos is innocent fun, especially while trying new dishes on vacation.
The Problem with Food Porn Tourism|Barbie Latza Nadeau|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An absurd new app employs sounds and pictures to con babies into snapping their own headshots.
Introducing the Internet’s New Bundle of Joy: The Baby Selfie|Charlotte Lytton|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly the audience was startled by the snapping of a string; the violin and bow dropped from the nerveless hands of the player.
The Fifth String |John Philip Sousa
For in my opinion it was no more damaged for defence than a brick wall would be by a boy's snapping marbles against it.
The Supplies for the Confederate Army|Caleb Huse
He lay down near the snapping fire and, drawing up the blanket to keep the rain from his face, was sound asleep in a few minutes.
The Gold Trail|Harold Bindloss
This was fighting, not dueling; and he beat the weapon down, snapping the blade near the hilt.
The Light That Lures|Percy Brebner
There were dozens of cameras snapping and the whole effect was distinctly festive in appearance.
In Africa|John T. McCutcheon

British Dictionary definitions for snap

snap

/ (snæp) /

verb snaps, snapping or snapped

to break or cause to break suddenly, esp with a sharp sound

to make or cause to make a sudden sharp cracking sound

(intr) to give way or collapse suddenly, esp from strain

to move, close, etc, or cause to move, close, etc, with a sudden sharp sound

to move or cause to move in a sudden or abrupt way

(intr; often foll by at or up) to seize something suddenly or quickly

(when intr, often foll by at) to bite at (something) bringing the jaws rapidly together

to speak (words) sharply or abruptly

(intr) (of eyes) to flash or sparkle

to take a snapshot of (something)

(intr) hunting to fire a quick shot without taking deliberate aim

(tr) American football to put (the ball) into play by sending it back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

snap one's fingers at informal

to dismiss with contempt
to defy

snap out of it informal to recover quickly, esp from depression, anger, or illness

noun

the act of breaking suddenly or the sound produced by a sudden breakage

a sudden sharp sound, esp of bursting, popping, or cracking

a catch, clasp, or fastener that operates with a snapping sound

a sudden grab or bite

the sudden release of something such as elastic thread

a brisk movement of the thumb against one or more fingers

a thin crisp biscuitginger snaps

informal See snapshot

informal vigour, liveliness, or energy

informal a task or job that is easy or profitable to do

a short spell or period, esp of cold weather

British dialect food, esp a packed lunch taken to work

British a card game in which the word snap is called when two cards of equal value are turned up on the separate piles dealt by each player

American football the start of each play when the centre passes the ball back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate

(modifier) done on the spur of the moment, without consideration or warninga snap decision

(modifier) closed or fastened with a snap

adverb

with a snap

interjection

cards the word called while playing snap
an exclamation used to draw attention to the similarity of two things

Derived forms of snap

snapless, adjectivesnappable, adjective

Word Origin for snap

C15: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snappen to seize; related to Old Norse snapa to snuffle

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

snap

Idioms about snap

Origin of snap

OTHER WORDS FROM snap

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH snap

Other definitions for snap (2 of 2)

Origin of SNAP

Words related to snap

How to use snap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for snap

Derived forms of snap

Word Origin for snap