26984 words

snap

32 definitions • 34 examples
1
to cause something that is thin to break suddenly and quickly with a cracking sound:

Examples:

You'll snap that ruler if you bend it too far.
snap something off Some vandal's snapped off my car aerial again.
2

Examples:

When she asked me to postpone my trip to help her move to her new house, I just snapped (= got angry).
3
to move into a position quickly, producing a short noise as if breaking:

Examples:

snap back Tendons store elastic energy by stretching and then snapping back into shape like rubber bands.
Simply snap the pieces into place.
4
to quickly return to a previous place or condition:

Examples:

snap back After substantial losses last year, the company has snapped back to profitability (= started making profits again).
5
If something snaps shut or is snapped shut, it closes quickly with a sudden sharp sound:

Examples:

She snapped her book shut and got up to leave.
6
If an animal snaps, it tries to bite someone:

Examples:

The guard dog was snarling and snapping behind the fence.
7
to say something suddenly in an angry way:

Examples:

snap at There's no need to snap at me - it's not my fault that you lost your wallet.
[ + speech ] "Well, I hate you too!" she snapped.
8
to take a lot of photographs quickly:

Examples:

snap away She's very pleased with her new camera and was snapping away the whole time we were abroad.
9
to fasten using two small pieces of metal or plastic, one of which is pushed into the other:

Examples:

snap something up He snapped up his jacket.
10
a sudden loud sound like something breaking or closing:

Examples:

She broke the stick over her knee with a loud snap.
11
a small piece of metal or plastic used to fasten clothes, with two usually round parts, one of which is pushed into the other
12
an informal photograph that is not very skilful or artistic:

Examples:

holiday snap Here are some tips for creating a photo book from your holiday snaps.
take a snap Did you take many snaps while you were away?
13
a card game in which the players compete to call out the word "snap" when they see two cards that have the same value:

Examples:

a game of snap
14
something that can be done without any difficulty:

Examples:

a snap "Will you finish on time?" "Sure thing. It's a snap."
snap for Talking to girls is a snap for him.
15
in American football, the act of passing the ball backward to start play
16
quickly, and without warning or much thought or effort:

Examples:

They can lose their licence in a snap.
17
done suddenly without allowing time for careful thought or preparation:

Examples:

snap decision He always makes snap decisions and never thinks about their consequences.
18
"Snap!" is what you say in the game of snap when two cards of the same value have been played.
19
something that you say when you notice that two things are the same:

Examples:

Snap! We're wearing the same shirts!
20
to break something quickly with a cracking sound:

Examples:

[ I ] High winds caused some power lines to snap, and we lost our electricity.
21
fig. People who snap suddenly lose control of their behavior when they experience very strong emotions:

Examples:

[ I ] His lawyer said he just snapped.
22
to move (something) or change into a new position quickly:

Examples:

[ M ] The sudden stop of the car snapped his head back.
23
If you snap your fingers, you make a sudden, cracking noise by pushing a finger against the base of your thumb, usually in order to get someone’s attention.
24
to make a quick, cracking sound by suddenly bringing together the two parts of something:

Examples:

[ T ] She snapped her briefcase shut and marched out of the room.
25
If a dog snaps at you, it suddenly tries to bite you.
26
to speak or say something suddenly in anger:

Examples:

[ I ] Don’t snap at your brother like that.
27
to use a camera to take a photograph without spending a lot of time doing it:

Examples:

Washington is full of tourists snapping pictures of each other.
28
something that can be done without any difficulty:

Examples:

Thinking that the exam would be a snap, she didn’t bother to study for it.
29
a small clothes fastener with two round parts, one of which is pushed into the other:

Examples:

The shirt fastens with snaps.
30
the act of breaking something stiff, or the cracking sound made when it breaks:

Examples:

The plastic handle broke with a loud snap.
31
done suddenly without allowing time for careful thought or preparation:

Examples:

Don’t make a snap decision – take some time to think it over.
32
to end a particular pattern of activity:

Examples:

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 40.47 to 4383.87, snapping a two-session losing streak.

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