verb (used without object), snapped, snapping.
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.
Photography. 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, snapping.
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.
Photography. to take a photograph of, especially quickly.
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.
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.
Photography. a snapshot.
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. a snapdragon.
British. a packed lunch, as that carried by a worker or traveler.
fastening or closing with a click or snap, as a device fitted with a spring catch: a snap lock.
made, done, taken, etc., suddenly or offhand: a snap judgment.
easy or simple.
in a brisk, sudden manner.
(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.
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 23 ).
snap out of, to free oneself from; recover from: It took him a long time to snap out of his grief.
snap someone's head off. bite ( def 32 ).

1485–95; < Dutch or Low German snappen to bite, seize

snapless, adjective
snappable, adjective
snappingly, adverb

schnapps, snaps. Unabridged
Cite This Source Link To Snapping
World English Dictionary
snap (snæp)
vb (when intr, often foll by at) , snaps, snapping, snapped
1.  to break or cause to break suddenly, esp with a sharp sound
2.  to make or cause to make a sudden sharp cracking sound
3.  (intr) to give way or collapse suddenly, esp from strain
4.  to move, close, etc, or cause to move, close, etc, with a sudden sharp sound
5.  to move or cause to move in a sudden or abrupt way
6.  (intr; often foll by at or up) to seize something suddenly or quickly
7.  to bite at (something) bringing the jaws rapidly together
8.  to speak (words) sharply or abruptly
9.  (intr) (of eyes) to flash or sparkle
10.  to take a snapshot of (something)
11.  (intr) hunting to fire a quick shot without taking deliberate aim
12.  (tr) American football to put (the ball) into play by sending it back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate
13.  informal snap one's fingers at
 a.  to dismiss with contempt
 b.  to defy
14.  informal snap out of it to recover quickly, esp from depression, anger, or illness
15.  the act of breaking suddenly or the sound produced by a sudden breakage
16.  a sudden sharp sound, esp of bursting, popping, or cracking
17.  a catch, clasp, or fastener that operates with a snapping sound
18.  a sudden grab or bite
19.  the sudden release of something such as elastic thread
20.  a brisk movement of the thumb against one or more fingers
21.  a thin crisp biscuit: ginger snaps
22.  informal See snapshot
23.  informal vigour, liveliness, or energy
24.  informal a task or job that is easy or profitable to do
25.  a short spell or period, esp of cold weather
26.  dialect (Brit) food, esp a packed lunch taken to work
27.  (Brit) 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
28.  American football the start of each play when the centre passes the ball back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate
29.  (modifier) done on the spur of the moment, without consideration or warning: a snap decision
30.  (modifier) closed or fastened with a snap
31.  with a snap
32.  a.  cards the word called while playing snap
 b.  an exclamation used to draw attention to the similarity of two things
[C15: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snappen to seize; related to Old Norse snapa to snuffle]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

1495, "quick, sudden bite or cut," from Du. or Low Ger. snappen "to snap," probably related to M.L.G. or M.Du. snavel "bill, beak" (see nib). Sense of "quick movement" is first recorded 1631; that of "something easily done" is 1877. Common in compounds to indicate instantaneous
action (cf. cold snap, 1829). The card game is attested from 1882. Phrase snap out of it first recorded 1928. Snap judgment is attested from 1841. Snappy "quick, energetic" is from 1831.

1520s, "to make a quick bite" (of animals), from snap (n.). Meaning "to break suddenly or sharply" is first recorded c.1600; the mental sense is from 1970s. U.S. football sense first recorded 1887. Snapping turtle is attested from 1784. To snap the fingers is from 1670s. Snappish
"peevish" is first recorded 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

snap (snāp)
A short sharp sound; a click. Used especially of cardiac sounds.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

snap definition

  1. n.
    a snapshot. : I got some good snaps of the fish you caught.
  2. in.
    to go crazy. : His mind snapped, and he's never been right since.
  3. n.
    a snap an easy thing to do. (Always with a in this sense.) : Nothing to it. It's a snap.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw-Hill Education.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Occasionally the hyenas would turn on one another, growling and snapping with
  blood-spattered muzzles.
By the time of closest approach, it was snapping photos once every four seconds.
We were able to power it on and begin snapping in less than three seconds.
It's the same as snapping a picture your phone, except the thing you're holding
  is four times the size.
Copyright © 2014, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature