Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To make a brisk sharp cracking sound.
  • intransitive verb To break suddenly with a brisk, sharp, cracking sound.
  • intransitive verb To give way abruptly under pressure or tension.
  • intransitive verb To suffer a physical or mental breakdown, especially while under stress.
  • intransitive verb To bring the jaws briskly together, often with a clicking sound; bite.
  • intransitive verb To take up something suddenly and eagerly; snatch or grasp.
  • intransitive verb To speak abruptly or sharply.
  • intransitive verb To move swiftly and smartly.
  • intransitive verb To flash or appear to flash light; sparkle.
  • intransitive verb To open, close, or fit together with a click.
  • intransitive verb To snatch at with the teeth or mouth; bite.
  • intransitive verb To pull apart or break with a snapping sound.
  • intransitive verb To utter abruptly or sharply.
  • intransitive verb To cause to emit a snapping sound.
  • intransitive verb To close or latch with a snapping sound.
  • intransitive verb To cause to move suddenly.
  • intransitive verb To take (a photograph).
  • intransitive verb To photograph.
  • intransitive verb Football To pass (the ball) from the ground back between the legs to begin a down; hike.
  • noun A sudden sharp cracking sound or the action producing such a sound.
  • noun A sudden breaking.
  • noun A clasp, catch, or other fastening device that operates with a snapping sound.
  • noun A sudden attempt to bite, snatch, or grasp.
  • noun The sound produced by rapid movement of a finger from the thumb tip to the base of the thumb.
  • noun The act of producing this sound.
  • noun The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension.
  • noun A thin, crisp, usually circular cookie.
  • noun Capacity to make a snapping sound; elasticity.
  • noun Informal Briskness, liveliness, or energy.
  • noun A brief spell of brisk, cold weather.
  • noun Something accomplished without effort. synonym: breeze.
  • noun A snapshot.
  • noun The taking of a snapshot.
  • noun A snap bean.
  • noun Football The passing of the ball from the ground back through the legs to a back to initiate a play.
  • adjective Made or done suddenly, with little or no preparation.
  • adjective Fastening with a snap.
  • adjective Informal Simple; easy.
  • adverb With a snap.
  • idiom (snap out of it) To move quickly back to one's normal condition from an undesirable condition, such as depression, grief, or self-pity.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A temporary banking game: as, to deal a snap at faro.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably from Middle English snappe, a quick bite, probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snappen, to seize, snap.]

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Examples

  • White horse with lots of dark horses around it. *adjust camera* *snap* *snap, snap, snap*

    pic o’ the day: horse rescue! « raincoaster 2007

  • Now altogether now, let’s pronounce ‘couture’. * snap snap* kü-'tur, yes work that tongue girlfriend, ku-tur!

    natinski Diary Entry natinski 2004

  • The varieties most frequently raised today do not have this, and are more tender and crisp - therefore the term snap beans.

    The Albert Lea Tribune 2010

  • Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

    Eric Holder, Attorney General 2008

  • Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

    Iowa State Daily 2008

  • Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

    News from www.pantagraph.com 2008

  • Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

    IBTimes.com RSS Feed - Politics & Policy 2008

  • Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

    CourierPostOnline.com - News 2008

  • The "snap" is rarely necessary because the message can be brought home with a lot less pressure.

    Banning dog choke collars? 2009

  • The "snap" is rarely necessary because the message can be brought home with a lot less pressure.

    Banning dog choke collars? 2009

Comments

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  • Pans in reverse.

    November 2, 2007

  • "the San Jose Sharks' offensive dynamo snapped a deadlock, scalding the locals with a late-game dandy" - Vancouver Sun, 1-4-08

    January 11, 2008

  • ...that bloke on the wall,

    the Thespian snap,

    he's got teeth just like

    Anachronistes,

    genus of shark...

    - Peter Reading, 5x5x5x5x5, 1983

    July 4, 2008

  • To snapchat.

    Overheard "snap you when I get home"

    May 6, 2016

  • Spotted in the wiktionary entry... "sorry. Your browser... JavaScript enabled .. "

    June 13, 2016