snæp v., n., adv., & adj. --v. (snapped, snapping) 1 intr. & tr. break suddenly or
with a snap. 2 intr. & tr.
emit or
cause to emit a
sudden sharp sound or
crack. 3 intr. & tr.
open or close with a snapping sound (the
bag snapped shut). 4 a intr. (often foll. by at)
speak irritably or spitefully (to a person) (did
not mean to snap at you). b tr.
say irritably or spitefully. 5 intr. (often foll. by at) (esp. of a
dog etc.)
make a sudden
audible bite. 6 tr. & intr.
move quickly (snap
into action). 7 tr.
take a
snapshot of. 8 tr. Amer.
Football put (the ball) into
play on
the ground by a
quick backward movement. --n. 1 an
act or sound of snapping. 2 a
crisp biscuit or
cake (brandy snap;
ginger snap). 3 a snapshot. 4 (in full
cold snap) a sudden
brief spell of cold
weather. 5
Brit. a a card-game in
which players
call 'snap'
when two similar cards are exposed. b (as int.) on noticing the (often unexpected) similarity of two things. 6 crispness of
style;
fresh vigour or liveliness in
action;
zest;
dash;
spring. 7 US sl. an
easy task (it
was a snap). --adv. with the sound of a snap (heard it go snap). --adj.
done or taken on the
spur of the
moment, unexpectedly, or
without notice (snap decision). øsnap at
accept (bait, a
chance, etc.) eagerly (see
also senses 4a
and 5 of v.). snap
bean US a bean
grown for its pods which are
broken into pieces and eaten. snap-bolt (or -lock) a bolt etc. which locks automatically when a
door or
window closes. snap-brim (of a hat) with a
brim that can be turned up and down at
opposite sides. snap-fastener = press-stud (see PRESS(1)). snap one's fingers 1 make an audible
fillip,
esp. in
rhythm to
music etc. 2 (often foll. by at)
defy;
show contempt for. snap-hook (or -link) a
hook or link with a spring allowing the entrance but
barring the
escape of a
cord, link, etc. snap
off break off or bite off. snap off a person's
head address a
person angrily or rudely. snap
out say irritably. snap out of sl.
get rid of (a mood,
habit, etc.) by a sudden
effort. snapping
turtle any large American freshwater turtle of the
family Chelydridae which seizes
prey with a snap of its jaws. snap up 1 accept (an
offer, a bargain) quickly or eagerly. 2 pick up or
catch hastily or smartly. 3
interrupt (another person)
before he or
she has finished
speaking. øøsnappable adj. snappingly adv. [prob. f. MDu. or MLG snappen,
partly imit.]