Definition Definition

snap - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'snap' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Snap [ n.]
- To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle.
- To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound.
- To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth.
- To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; -- usually with up.
- To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip.
- To project with a snap.
2 . Snap [ v. i.]
- To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps.
- To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps.
- 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.
- To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; -- often with at; as, to snap at a child.
- To miss fire; as, the gun snapped.
3 . Snap [ v. t.]
- A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.
- A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth.
- A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger.
- A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun.
- 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.
- A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap.
- A small catch or fastening held or closed by means of a spring, or one which closes with a snapping sound, as the catch of a bracelet, necklace, clasp of a book, etc.
- A snap beetle.
- A thin, crisp cake, usually small, and flavored with ginger; -- used chiefly in the plural.
- Briskness; vigor; energy; decision.
- Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained.

Meaning of 'snap' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . snap [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a spell of cold weather
Example in sentence:
  • a cold snap in the middle of May
Meaning (2):
- a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound
Example in sentence:
  • children can manage snaps better than buttons
Meaning (3):
- a sudden sharp noise
Example in sentence:
  • he can hear the snap of a twig;
  • he heard the cracking of the ice;
  • the crack of a whip
Meaning (4):
- the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
Example in sentence:
  • he gave his fingers a snap
Meaning (5):
- the act of catching an object with the hands
Example in sentence:
  • he made a grab for the ball before it landed;
  • Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away;
  • Mays made the catch with his back to the plate;
  • the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion
Meaning (6):
- an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
Example in sentence:
  • he tried to get unposed shots of his friends;
  • my snapshots haven't been developed yet
Meaning (7):
- any undertaking that is easy to do
Example in sentence:
  • marketing this product will be no picnic
Meaning (8):
- the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
Example in sentence:
  • servants appeared at the snap of his fingers
Meaning (9):
- (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
Example in sentence:
  • the quarterback fumbled the snap
Meaning (10):
- the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
Example in sentence:
  • the waistband had lost its snap
11 . snap [ v]
Meaning (11):
- to grasp hastily or eagerly
Example in sentence:
  • Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone
Meaning (12):
- move with a snapping sound
Example in sentence:
  • bullets snapped past us
Meaning (13):
- move or strike with a noise
Example in sentence:
  • he clicked on the light;
  • his arm was snapped forward
Meaning (14):
- bring the jaws together
Example in sentence:
  • he snapped indignantly
Meaning (15):
- make a sharp sound
Example in sentence:
  • his fingers snapped
Meaning (16):
- record on photographic film
Example in sentence:
  • I photographed the scene of the accident;
  • She snapped a picture of the President
Meaning (17):
- put in play with a snap
Example in sentence:
  • snap a football
Meaning (18):
- cause to make a snapping sound
Example in sentence:
  • snap your fingers
Meaning (19):
- separate or cause to separate abruptly
Example in sentence:
  • tear the paper;
  • The rope snapped
Meaning (20):
- utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
Example in sentence:
  • The guard snarled at us;
  • The sales clerk snapped a reply at the angry customer
Meaning (21):
- close with a snapping motion
Example in sentence:
  • The lock snapped shut
Meaning (22):
- break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension
Example in sentence:
  • The pipe snapped
Meaning (23):
- lose control of one's emotions
Example in sentence:
  • When her baby died, she snapped;
  • When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely