Adjacent Words

Snap definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SNAP, v.t.
1. To break at once; to break short; as substances that are brittle. Breaks the doors open, smaps the locks.
2. To strike with a sharp sound.
3. To bite or seize suddenly with the teeth.
4. To break upon suddenly with sharp angry words.
5. To crack; as, to snap a whip.
TO SNAP OFF,
1. To break suddenly.
2. To bite off suddenly.
TO SNAP ONE UP, TO SNAP ONE UP SHORT, to treat with sharp words.
SNAP, v.i.
1. To break short; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast or spar snaps; a needle snaps. If steel is too hard, that is, too brittle, with the least bending, it will snap.
2. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; as, a dog snaps at a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.
3. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words.
SNAP, n.
1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.
2. A sudden eager bite; a sudden seizing or effort to seize with the teeth.
3. A crack of a whip.
4. A greedly fellow.
5. A catch; a theft.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion" [syn: catch, grab, snatch, snap]
2: a spell of cold weather; "a cold snap in the middle of May"
3: tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections [syn: snap bean, snap]
4: a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger [syn: gingersnap, ginger snap, snap, ginger nut]
5: the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand; "servants appeared at the snap of his fingers"
6: a sudden sharp noise; "the crack of a whip"; "he heard the cracking of the ice"; "he can hear the snap of a twig" [syn: crack, cracking, snap]
7: a sudden breaking
8: the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed; "the waistband had lost its snap" [syn: elasticity, snap] [ant: inelasticity]
9: an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera; "my snapshots haven't been developed yet"; "he tried to get unposed shots of his friends" [syn: snapshot, snap, shot]
10: a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound; "children can manage snaps better than buttons" [syn: snap, snap fastener, press stud]
11: any undertaking that is easy to do; "marketing this product will be no picnic" [syn: cinch, breeze, picnic, snap, duck soup, child's play, pushover, walkover, piece of cake]
12: the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand; "he gave his fingers a snap"
13: (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back; "the quarterback fumbled the snap" [syn: centering, snap] v
1: utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone; "The sales clerk snapped a reply at the angry customer"; "The guard snarled at us" [syn: snap, snarl]
2: separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped"; "tear the paper" [syn: tear, rupture, snap, bust]
3: break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension; "The pipe snapped" [syn: snap, crack]
4: move or strike with a noise; "he clicked on the light"; "his arm was snapped forward" [syn: snap, click]
5: close with a snapping motion; "The lock snapped shut"
6: make a sharp sound; "his fingers snapped" [syn: snap, crack]
7: move with a snapping sound; "bullets snapped past us"
8: to grasp hastily or eagerly; "Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone" [syn: snatch, snatch up, snap]
9: put in play with a snap; "snap a football"
10: cause to make a snapping sound; "snap your fingers" [syn: snap, click, flick]
11: lose control of one's emotions; "When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely"; "When her baby died, she snapped" [syn: break down, lose it, snap]
12: bring the jaws together; "he snapped indignantly"
13: record on photographic film; "I photographed the scene of the accident"; "She snapped a picture of the President" [syn: photograph, snap, shoot]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (snapped; snapping) Etymology: Dutch or Low German snappen; akin to Middle High German snappen to snap Date: 1530 intransitive verb 1. a. to make a sudden closing of the jaws ; seize something sharply with the mouth <fish snapping at the bait> b. to grasp at something eagerly ; make a pounce or snatch <snap at any chance> 2. to utter sharp biting words ; bark out irritable or peevish retorts 3. a. to break suddenly with a sharp sound <the twig snapped> b. to give way suddenly under strain 4. to make a sharp or crackling sound 5. to close or fit in place with an abrupt movement or sharp sound <the lock snapped shut> 6. a. to move briskly or sharply <snaps to attention> b. to undergo a sudden and rapid change (as from one condition to another) <snap out of it> <snapped awake> 7. sparkle, flash <eyes snapping with fury> transitive verb 1. to seize with or as if with a snap of the jaws 2. to take possession or advantage of suddenly or eagerly — usually used with up <shoppers snapping up bargains> 3. a. to retort to or interrupt curtly and irritably b. to utter curtly or abruptly 4. to break suddenly ; break short or in two 5. a. to cause to make a snapping sound <snap a whip> b. to put into or remove from a particular position by a sudden movement or with a sharp sound <snap the lock shut> 6. a. to project with a snap b. to put (a football) in play with a snap c. (1) to take photographically <snapping exclusive news pictures — Current Biography> (2) to take a snapshot of II. noun Date: 1555 1. an abrupt closing (as of the mouth in biting or of scissors in cutting) 2. a. archaic a share of profits or booty b. something that brings quick and easy profit or advantage c. something that is easy and presents no problems ; cinch 3. a small amount ; bit 4. a. an act or instance of seizing abruptly ; a sudden snatching at something b. a quick short movement <lithe snaps of its body — Barbara Taylor> c. a sudden sharp breaking 5. a. a sound made by snapping something <shut the book with a snap> b. a brief sharp and usually irritable speech or retort 6. a sudden spell of weather <a cold snap> 7. a catch or fastening that closes or locks with a click <the snap of a bracelet> 8. a flat brittle cookie — compare gingersnap 9. snapshot 10. a. the condition of being vigorous in body, mind, or spirit ; alertness, energy b. a pleasing vigorous quality 11. the act of a center's putting the football in play from its position on the ground by quickly passing it between his legs to a teammate (as a quarterback) standing behind him III. adverb Date: 1583 with a snap IV. adjective Date: 1739 1. done, made, or carried through suddenly or without deliberation <a snap judgment> 2. called or taken without prior warning <a snap election> 3. fastening with a snap <a snap lock> 4. unusually easy or simple <a snap course>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v., n., adv., & adj. --v. (snapped, snapping) 1 intr. & tr. break suddenly or with a snap. 2 intr. & tr. emit or cause to emit a sudden sharp sound or crack. 3 intr. & tr. open or close with a snapping sound (the bag snapped shut). 4 a intr. (often foll. by at) speak irritably or spitefully (to a person) (did not mean to snap at you). b tr. say irritably or spitefully. 5 intr. (often foll. by at) (esp. of a dog etc.) make a sudden audible bite. 6 tr. & intr. move quickly (snap into action). 7 tr. take a snapshot of. 8 tr. Amer. Football put (the ball) into play on the ground by a quick backward movement. --n. 1 an act or sound of snapping. 2 a crisp biscuit or cake (brandy snap; ginger snap). 3 a snapshot. 4 (in full cold snap) a sudden brief spell of cold weather. 5 Brit. a a card-game in which players call 'snap' when two similar cards are exposed. b (as int.) on noticing the (often unexpected) similarity of two things. 6 crispness of style; fresh vigour or liveliness in action; zest; dash; spring. 7 US sl. an easy task (it was a snap). --adv. with the sound of a snap (heard it go snap). --adj. done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice (snap decision). Phrases and idioms: snap at accept (bait, a chance, etc.) eagerly (see also senses 4a and 5 of v.). snap bean US a bean grown for its pods which are broken into pieces and eaten. snap-bolt (or -lock) a bolt etc. which locks automatically when a door or window closes. snap-brim (of a hat) with a brim that can be turned up and down at opposite sides. snap-fastener = press-stud (see PRESS(1)). snap one's fingers 1 make an audible fillip, esp. in rhythm to music etc. 2 (often foll. by at) defy; show contempt for. snap-hook (or -link) a hook or link with a spring allowing the entrance but barring the escape of a cord, link, etc. snap off break off or bite off. snap off a person's head address a person angrily or rudely. snap out say irritably. snap out of sl. get rid of (a mood, habit, etc.) by a sudden effort. snapping turtle any large American freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae which seizes prey with a snap of its jaws. snap up 1 accept (an offer, a bargain) quickly or eagerly. 2 pick up or catch hastily or smartly. 3 interrupt (another person) before he or she has finished speaking. Derivatives: snappable adj. snappingly adv. Etymology: prob. f. MDu. or MLG snappen, partly imit.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, v. t. (Cricket) To catch out sharply (a batsman who has just snicked a bowled ball).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, v. i. Of the eyes, to emit sudden, brief sparkles like those of a snapping fire, as sometimes in anger.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, n. 1. Any task, labor, set of circumstances, or the like, that yields satisfactory results or gives pleasure with little trouble or effort, as an easy course of study, a job where work is light, a bargain, etc. [Slang, Chiefly U. S.] 2. A snap shot with a firearm. 3. (Photog.) A snapshot. 4. Something of no value; as, not worth a snap. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, a. Done, performed, made, executed, carried through, or the like, quickly and without deliberation; as, a snap judgment or decision; a snap political convention. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, v. i. 1. To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps. But this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it. --Burke. 2. To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps. 3. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); -- often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait. 4. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; -- often with at; as, to snap at a child.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Snapping.] [LG. or D. snappen to snap up, to snatch; akin to G. schnappen, MHG. snaben, Dan. snappe, and to D. snavel beak, bill. Cf. Neb, Snaffle, n.] 1. To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle. Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks. --Prior. 2. To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound. 3. To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth. He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last. --South. 4. To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; -- usually with up. --Granville. 5. To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip. MacMorian snapped his fingers repeatedly. --Sir W. Scott. 6. To project with a snap. To snap back (Football), to roll the ball back with the foot; -- done only by the center rush, who thus delivers the ball to the quarter back on his own side when both sides are ranged in line.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snap Snap, n. [Cf. D. snap a snatching. See Snap, v. t.] 1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance. 2. A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth. 3. A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger. 4. A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun. 5. A greedy fellow. --L'Estrange. 6. That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap. He's a nimble fellow, And alike skilled in every liberal science, As having certain snaps of all. --B. Jonson. 7. A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(snaps, snapping, snapped) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise. He shifted his weight and a twig snapped... The brake pedal had just snapped off... She gripped the pipe with both hands, trying to snap it in half. VERB: V, V adv/prep, V n adv/prep, also V n • Snap is also a noun. Every minute or so I could hear a snap, a crack and a crash as another tree went down. N-SING 2. If you snap something into a particular position, or if it snaps into that position, it moves quickly into that position, with a sharp sound. He snapped the notebook shut... The bag snapped open. VERB: V n adv/prep, V adv • Snap is also a noun. He shut the book with a snap and stood up. N-SING 3. If you snap your fingers, you make a sharp sound by moving your middle finger quickly across your thumb, for example in order to accompany music or to order someone to do something. She had millions of listeners snapping their fingers to her first single... = click VERB: V n • Snap is also a noun. I could obtain with the snap of my fingers anything I chose. N-SING: N of n 4. If someone snaps at you, they speak to you in a sharp, unfriendly way. 'Of course I don't know her,' Roger snapped... I'm sorry, Casey, I didn't mean to snap at you like that. VERB: V with quote, V at n 5. If someone snaps, or if something snaps inside them, they suddenly stop being calm and become very angry because the situation has become too tense or too difficult for them. He finally snapped when she prevented their children from visiting him one weekend... VERB: V 6. If an animal such as a dog snaps at you, it opens and shuts its jaws quickly near you, as if it were going to bite you. His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle... The poodle yapped and snapped. VERB: V at n, V 7. A snap decision or action is one that is taken suddenly, often without careful thought. I think this is too important for a snap decision... ADJ: ADJ n 8. A snap is a photograph. (INFORMAL) ...a snap my mother took last year. = photo N-COUNT 9. If you snap someone or something, you take a photograph of them. (INFORMAL) He was the first ever non-British photographer to be invited to snap a royal. = photograph VERB: V n 10. see also cold snap

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Break short, break short off. 2. Bite, seize, catch at, snatch at, snip. 3. Crack (as a whip). 4. Twang. II. v. n. 1. Break short. 2. Crackle, decrepitate, crepitate. 3. Snarl. III. n. 1. Bite, catch, seizure. 2. Clasp, fastening, catch, small lock. 3. Crack (as of a whip), smack. 4. Interval, spell, season. 5. Gingerbread, gingercake, gingernut.

Foolish Dictionary

A brisk, energetic quality that enables a man with ginger to take the cake.

Moby Thesaurus

Photostat, Telephoto, Wirephoto, X-ray, Xerox, a continental, a curse, a damn, a darn, a hoot, abrupt, ad-lib, adaptability, aerial photograph, aggressiveness, alertness, animation, articulate, attack, automatic, awaken, bagatelle, bang, bar, bark, bark at, barricade, bash, bat, batten, batten down, bauble, bawl, beak, bean, bellow, belt, bibelot, biff, bit, bite, bitter weather, black-and-white photograph, blare, blat, bleak weather, blubber, bolt, bolus, bonk, boom, bounce, bounciness, bowl, brass farthing, bray, breach, break, break off, break open, break up, breathe, breeze, briskness, brush, buckle, bunt, buoyance, buoyancy, burst, bust, butt, button, button up, buzz, cackle, calotype, candid photograph, capture, capture on film, cast, casual, catapult, catch, caught napping, caught off balance, caught short, cent, champ, chant, chaw, check, cheer up, cheesecake, chew, chip, chirp, choke, choke off, chomp, chronophotograph, chuck, chunk, cinch, clack, clap, clasp, cleat, cleave, click, clip, clobber, close, close up, clout, clump, clutch, cold snap, cold wave, cold weather, coldcock, color, color photograph, color print, come apart, come around, come round, come unstuck, constrict, contain, contemn, contract, coo, cover, crack, cracking, crackle, crackling, crepitate, crepitation, crow, cud, curio, cursory, cut, dab, dart, dash, deal, deal a blow, deck, decrepitate, decrepitation, defy, depth of winter, deride, diapositive, disdain, disintegrate, dismiss, disregard, dovetail, drawl, drive, easy target, easy thing, elan, elasticity, energy, enterprise, exclaim, exfoliate, expeditious, extemporaneous, extemporized, extensibility, fall to pieces, farce, farthing, fasten, fastening, feather, festinate, fetch, fetch a blow, feverish, fig, fillip, film, fire, fissure, fleabite, flexibility, flick, fling, flip, flirt, flout, flush, flute, flying, fold, fold up, folderol, fork, fracture, freeze, freezing weather, fribble, frippery, frost, frown, furious, gasp, gaud, get, get-up-and-go, gewgaw, gimcrack, ginger, give, give away, give way, glare, glower, gnarl, gnash, gob, grab, grasp, graze, growl, grumble, grunt, gut, guts, hair, halfpenny, haphazard, hard winter, hasp, hasty, heave, heliochrome, heliograph, hill of beans, hinge, hiss, hit, hit a clip, hitch, hook, hotness, hurl, hurried, hurtle, ignore, ill-advised, ill-considered, ill-devised, immediate, impromptu, improvised, inadvertent, incautious, indeliberate, initiative, instant, instantaneous, interval, involuntary, jab, jam, jerk, jest, joint, joke, keen, key, kick, kickshaw, knickknack, knickknackery, knock, knock cold, knock down, knock out, lance, lash out at, last-minute, latch, launch, let fly, let have it, lilt, liveliness, lob, lock, lock out, lock up, look daggers, lower, lug, lunge at, lurch, make off with, makeshift, mantle, microfilm, minikin, miter, mock, mockery, molehill, montage, morsel, mortise, mouthful, mug, mug shot, mumble, munch, murmur, mutter, nail, nibble, nip, nippiness, occlude, on the spot, padlock, pan, pant, part, pass, passing, paste, pat, peck, peg, pelt, pep, pepper, peppercorn, pepperiness, period, perk up, photo, photobiography, photochronograph, photograph, photomap, photomicrograph, photomontage, photomural, picayune, pick, picnic, picture, pie, piece of cake, pin, pinch of snuff, pinprick, pinup, pipe, piss and vinegar, pitch, pitchfork, pizzazz, pluck, plumb, plunk, poke, poop, pop, portrait, pounce on, pounce upon, precipitate, prompt, punch, push, pushover, put, put the shot, quick, quid, rabbet, raciness, radiograph, rap, rash, raw weather, rebound, recover, red cent, redden, reflex, reflexive, relish, resilience, resiliency, responsiveness, revive, rivet, roar, roentgenograph, rough-and-ready, row of pins, rumble, rupture, rush, scale, scarf, scorn, scowl, scream, screech, screw, seal, seal off, seal up, secure, seize, separate, serve, setup, sew, shit, shoot, shot, shriek, shut, shut the door, shut up, shy, sibilate, sigh, sinecure, sing, sitting duck, sizzling, skewer, slam, slap-bang, slapdash, slide, sling, slog, slug, smack, smite, snap at, snappiness, snapping, snapshoot, snapshot, snarl, snatch, snatch at, sneeshing, snip, snort, soak, sob, sock, soft, soft touch, sou, sparkle, speedy, spell, spice, spiciness, spit, spitting, split, spontaneous, sprightliness, spring, spring a leak, springiness, spunk, squall, squawk, squeal, squeeze shut, staple, starch, start, stick, still, still photograph, stitch, strangle, straw, stretch, stretchability, stretchiness, strike, strike at, subzero weather, sudden, superficial, surprised, swallow, swat, swift, swipe, tack, take a photograph, take away, taken aback, taken by surprise, taken unawares, talbotype, tang, tanginess, tap, telephotograph, throw, thrust, thump, thunder, thwack, tickle, tilt, tip, toggle, tone, tonicity, tonus, toss, touch, toy, transparency, trifle, trinket, tripped up, triviality, trumpet, tuppence, twang, twitch, two cents, twopence, unadvised, unarranged, unbegun, uncalculated, unconcocted, unconscious, unconsidered, uncontrived, undeliberate, undeliberated, undesigned, undevised, unhatched, unintended, unintentional, unmade, unmanufactured, unmeditated, unorganized, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unprimed, unready, unstudied, unwilled, urgent, vellicate, velvet, verve, vigor, vim, vitality, wail, wake up, wallop, warble, wave, wedge, whack, wham, whim-wham, whine, whisk, whisper, whop, winter, wintry weather, wintry wind, yank, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yerk, zero weather, zest, zestfulness, zing, zip, zip up, zipper