snooker
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
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a game played on a billiard table with 15 red balls, six balls of other colours, and a white cue ball. The object is to pot the balls in a certain order
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a shot in which the cue ball is left in a position such that another ball blocks the object ball. The opponent is then usually forced to play the cue ball off a cushion
verb
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to leave (an opponent) in an unfavourable position by playing a snooker
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to place (someone) in a difficult situation
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(often passive) to thwart; defeat
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has snookeredperfect 3rd person singular
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have snookeredperfect
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is snookeringprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been snookeringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are snookeringprogressive
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am snookeringprogressive 1st person singular
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have been snookeringperfect progressive
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snookeringparticiple
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snookerssingular 3rd person
Past
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had snookeredperfect
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were snookeringprogressive plural
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had been snookeringperfect progressive
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was snookeringprogressive singular
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snookeredparticiple
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snookeredsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of snooker
First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain
Vocabulary lists containing snooker
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Barry is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promoters in boxing, darts and snooker, while his son Eddie is chairman of the organisation.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
One reason for China's snooker explosion is that it remains relatively cheap to play here.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
However, in keeping with what had gone before, Higgins immediately responded with runs of 44 and 55 and then pinched the following frame after laying a snooker on the brown.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
The duo then conjured up plenty of drama and some superb snooker as they traded the next two frames.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
He looked like one of those consumptive snooker players on cable.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
