Snap

Compare Dutch snap ("a snatching").

Full definition of snap

(countable and uncountable; plural snaps)

A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound.
A sudden break.
An attempt to seize, bite, attack, or grab.
The act of making a snapping sound by pressing the thumb and a opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm.
A fastening device that makes a snapping sound when used.
A photograph (an abbreviation of snapshot)
The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension.
A thin circular cookie or similar good:a ginger snap
A brief, sudden period of a certain weather; used primarily in the phrase cold snap.
A very short period of time (figuratively, the time taken to snap one's fingers), or a task that can be accomplished in such a period.It'll be a snap to get that finished.I can fix most vacuum cleaners in a snap.
A snap bean such as Phaseolus vulgaris.
(American football) The passing of a football from the center to a back that begins play, a hike.
(somewhat colloquial) A rivet: a scrapbooking embellishment.
(UK, regional) A small meal, a snack; lunch.

1913, D. H. Lawrence, , Penguin 2006, page 89:When I went to put my coat on at snap time, what should go runnin' up my arm but a mouse.

(uncountable) A card game, primarily for children, in which players cry "snap" to claim pairs of matching cards.
(obsolete) A greedy fellow.
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.

Ben JonsonHe's a nimble fellow,
And alike skilled in every liberal science,
As having certain snaps of all.

briskness; vigour; energy; decision
(slang, archaic) Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. used primarily in the phrase soft snap.
A snapper, or snap beetle.

(intransitive, transitive) To fracture or break apart suddenly.He snapped his stick in anger.If you bend it too much, it will snap.

BurkeBut this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it.

(intransitive) To give forth or produce a sharp cracking noise; to crack.Blazing firewood snaps.
(intransitive) To attempt to seize with the teeth or bite.A dog snaps at a passenger. A fish snaps at the bait.
(intransitive) To attempt to seize with eagerness.She snapped at the chance to appear on television.
(intransitive) To speak abruptly or sharply.He snapped at me for the slightest mistake.
(intransitive) To give way abruptly and loudly.
(intransitive) To suffer a mental breakdown, usually while under tension.She should take a break before she snaps.
(intransitive) To flash or appear to flash as with light.
(intransitive) To fit or fasten together with a snapping sound.
(intransitive, computing, graphical user interface) To jump to a fixed position relative to another element.The floating toolbar will snap to the edge of the screen when dragged towards it.
(transitive) To snatch with or as if with the teeth.

SouthHe, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last.

(transitive) To pull apart with a snapping sound; to pop loose.
(transitive) To say abruptly or sharply.
(transitive, dated) To speak to abruptly or sharply; to treat snappishly; usually with up.
(transitive) To cause something to emit a snapping sound.to snap a fastenerto snap a whip
(transitive) To close something using a snap as a fastener.
(transitive) To snap one's fingers: to make a snapping sound, often by pressing the thumb and an opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm; alternatively, by bringing the index finger quickly down onto the middle finger and thumb.

(transitive) To cause to move suddenly and smartly.
(transitive) To take a photograph; to release a camera's shutter (which may make a snapping sound).He snapped a picture of me with my mouth open and my eyes closed.
(transitive, American football) To pass the ball from the center to a back; to hike the ball.He can snap the ball to a back twenty yards behind him.
To misfire.The gun snapped.

The winning cry at a game of snap (game).
(British) By extension from the card game, "I've got one the same." or similarSnap! We've both got pink buckets and spades.
(British) Ritual utterance of agreement (after the cry in the card game snap).
(US) Used in place of expletive to express surprise, usually in response to a negative statement or news; often used facetiously."I just ran over your phone with my car." "Oh, snap!"
(British, Australia, NZ) Ritual utterance used after something is said by two people at exactly the same time."Wasn't that John?" "Wasn't that John?" "Snap!"