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snap
1[snap]
verb (used without object)
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 byat ).
to utter a quick, sharp sentence or speech, especially a command, reproof, retort, etc. (often followed byat ).
to be radiant; sparkle; flash, as the eyes.
verb (used with object)
to seize with or take, buy, or obtain as with a quick bite or grab (followed by up oroff ).
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.
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.
Informal.snapdragon.
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 election called years ahead of schedule.
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 phrase
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.
SNAP
2[snap]
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.
snap
/ æ /
verb
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
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
informal
to dismiss with contempt
to defy
informalto 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 biscuit
ginger snaps
informalSee snapshot
informalvigour, liveliness, or energy
informala task or job that is easy or profitable to do
a short spell or period, esp of cold weather
dialectfood, esp a packed lunch taken to work
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 warning
a 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
Other 51Թ Forms
- snapless adjective
- snappable adjective
- snappingly adverb
- ˈԲ adjective
- ˈԲ貹 adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of snap1
Origin of snap2
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of snap1
Idioms and Phrases
Example Sentences
By 8:45 a.m., the clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the grass in Nielson’s fist began to crinkle and snap.
While inside the cubicle, Jones snapped pictures of the golden toilet and a lock on the door.
She can peg a person’s height at a glance and sum up their prospects in a pitiless snap judgment.
While officers may not have known Padilla was a U.S. senator when they started going after him, they certainly did by the time the cuffs were snapping.
“Stop f— with the formula,” he reportedly snapped.
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When To Use
Snap is a verb that means to break something suddenly. Snap is also used to mean to cause something to make a sharp noise. Snap is used informally as a noun to mean something is easy. Snap has many other senses as both a verb and a noun.Snap refers to something breaking without warning, especially if it makes a loud noise.Real-life examples: Tree limbs may snap during a storm. When a limb breaks, it usually does so loudly. You may snap your pencil into two pieces when struggling with a math problem. When you’re feeling generous, you may snap a chocolate bar in half to share with a friend.Used in a sentence: He snapped the cane in half over his knee. Snap is also used to mean to cause something to make a sudden, loud noise.Real-life examples: This sense of snap almost always refers to a noise a person can make by quickly rubbing their fingers together. An impatient boss may snap their fingers to get workers to move faster or your teacher may snap their fingers to get the class’s attention. A whip or rope may also be snapped by flicking it quickly so that it makes a loud cracking noise.Used in a sentence: I don’t know how to snap my fingers. Snap is used informally as a noun to mean something doesn’t take much effort or pays a lot of money for not much work. The word breeze is used informally to mean this same thing.Real-life examples: Some things that could be considered a snap include a very easy test, babysitting a child that sleeps the entire time, or getting paid to do something you were going to do anyway.Used in a sentence: After studying hard last night, that test was a snap and I passed it easily.
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.
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