snap

—snapless, adj. —snappable, adj. —snappingly, adv.

/snap/, v., snapped, snapping, n., adj., adv.

v.i.

1. to make a sudden, sharp, distinct sound; crack, as a whip; crackle.

2. to click, as a mechanism or the jaws or teeth coming together.

3. to move, strike, shut, catch, etc., with a sharp sound, as a door, lid, or lock.

4. to break suddenly, esp. with a sharp, cracking sound, as something slender and brittle: The branch snapped.

5. to act or move with quick or abrupt motions of the body: to snap to attention.

6. Photog. to take a photograph, esp. without formal posing of the subject.

7. to make a quick or sudden bite or grab (often fol. by at).

8. to utter a quick, sharp sentence or speech, esp. a command, reproof, retort, etc. (often fol. by at).

9. to be radiant; sparkle; flash, as the eyes.

v.t.

10. to seize with or take, buy, or obtain as with a quick bite or grab (fol. by up or off): The bargains were snapped up.

11. to secure, judge, vote, etc., hastily: They snapped the bill through Congress.

12. to cause to make a sudden, sharp sound: to snap one's fingers.

13. to crack (a whip).

14. to bring, strike, shut, open, operate, etc., with a sharp sound or movement: to snap a lid down.

15. to address or interrupt (a person) quickly and sharply.

16. to say or utter (words, a command, a retort, etc.) in a quick, sharp manner: to snap complaints.

17. to break suddenly, esp. with a cracking sound: to snap a stick in half.

18. Photog. to take a photograph of, esp. quickly.

19. Building Trades. to transfer (a line) to a surface by means of a chalk line.

20. Football. to put (the ball) into play by tossing it back to the quarterback or other member of the offensive backfield, esp. from between the legs when bent over double and facing the line of scrimmage; center.

21. Hunting. to fire (a shot) quickly, esp. without raising the gun to aim from the eye.

22. snap one's fingers at. See finger (def. 16).

23. snap out of, to free oneself from; recover from: It took him a long time to snap out of his grief.

24. snap someone's head off. See bite (def. 20).

25. snap to,

a. to come to attention: The troops snapped to when the colonel walked in.

b. to shape up: If you don't snap to and study, you'll flunk the course.

n.

26. a quick, sudden action or movement, as the flick of a whip or the breaking of a twig.

27. a short, sharp sound, as that caused by breaking a twig or closing a latch.

28. a catch or fastener that closes by pressure and clicks together.

29. Informal. briskness, vigor, or energy: That song has a lot of snap.

30. a quick, sharp speech or manner of speaking: He uttered his commands with a snap.

31. a quick or sudden bite or grab, as at something: The fish ate with little snaps.

32. something obtained by or as by biting or grabbing: a snap of food.

33. a brittle cookie.

34. a short spell or period, as of cold weather: an unexpected cold snap.

35. Photog. a snapshot.

36. Informal. an easy, profitable, or agreeable position, piece of work, or the like: This job is a snap.

37. Football. the act or an instance of snapping the ball.

38. a snap bean.

39. Informal. a snapdragon.

40. Brit. a packed lunch, as that carried by a worker or traveler.

41. not give or care a snap of one's fingers for, to regard with indifference; treat lightly. Also, not give or care a snap.

adj.

42. fastening or closing with a click or snap, as a device fitted with a spring catch: a snap lock.

43. made, done, taken, etc., suddenly or offhand: a snap judgment.

44. easy or simple.

adv.

45. in a brisk, sudden manner.

[1485-95; < D or LG snappen to bite, seize]

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