snap
Noun:
- A sudden, sharp sound: A short, quick, cracking noise, like that of something breaking or a finger being clicked.
- A quick, sudden action or movement: A fast, often abrupt motion, such as the closing of something or a quick photograph.
- A fastener: A type of clothing closure that makes a clicking sound when pressed together.
- A brief period of something: A short, sudden spell of a particular condition, especially weather.
- An easy task: An undertaking that is very simple to do.
- An informal photograph: A photograph taken quickly and casually.
Verb:
- To break suddenly with a sharp sound: To separate or cause to separate abruptly, often with a cracking noise.
- To make a sharp sound: To produce a sudden, short noise, like clicking one's fingers.
- To speak sharply or angrily: To utter words in a quick, irritable, or abrupt manner.
- To move or close quickly and sharply: To move or cause to move into position with a sudden, decisive motion.
- To take a photograph quickly: To capture an image with a camera in an instant.
- To lose self-control: To suddenly become unable to control one's emotions, often after prolonged stress.
Noun:
- The branch broke with a loud snap. (The branch made a sharp cracking sound when it broke.)
- She closed the purse with a snap. (She closed the purse, and its fastener made a clicking sound.)
- We're expecting a cold snap this weekend. (We are anticipating a short period of very cold weather.)
- Fixing the leak was a snap for the plumber. (For the plumber, repairing the leak was a very easy job.)
Verb:
- The dry twig snapped under his foot. (The dry twig broke suddenly when he stepped on it.)
- He snapped his fingers to get our attention. (He made a clicking sound with his fingers to attract our notice.)
- "Don't ask me again!" she snapped. (She spoke those words in a sharp, angry tone.)
- The lid snapped shut. (The lid closed quickly and firmly with a clicking sound.)
- I snapped a few pictures of the sunset. (I quickly took several photographs of the sunset.)
- After months of pressure, he finally snapped. (After enduring stress for a long time, he finally lost his emotional control.)
"Snap out of it": To force yourself to stop being in an undesirable mood or state (like sadness, lethargy, or daydreaming).
- He was feeling depressed, but he managed to snap out of it. (He was able to make himself stop feeling depressed.)
"Snap to it": A command to start doing something immediately and with energy.
- We're late! Snap to it! (We need to hurry up and get moving right away!)
"Snap decision/judgment": A decision or opinion made very quickly, without careful thought.
- I made a snap decision to buy the car, and I later regretted it. (I decided to purchase the car impulsively.)
Snappy (adj): Lively, brisk, or stylish. Also can mean irritable.
- She writes in a snappy style. (Her writing style is lively and brisk.)
- He's feeling snappy today. (He is in an irritable mood today.)
Snapshot (n): An informal photograph taken quickly.
- I took a snapshot of my friends at the park. (I captured a quick, casual photo of them.)
Snap fastener (n): Another term for a snap, the type of clothing closure.
- The jacket has snap fasteners instead of buttons. (The jacket uses clicking closures.)
- Crack: A sharp sound, often of something breaking.
- Break: To separate into pieces.
- Bark: To speak or say something quickly and angrily.
- Click: A short, light, sharp sound.
- Breeze (informal, for an easy task): Something very easy to do.
Snap up: To buy or take something quickly and eagerly because it is a good opportunity.
- Shoppers snapped up the sale items in minutes. (Shoppers quickly bought all the discounted goods.)
Snap at:
- To try to bite someone or something suddenly.
- The dog snapped at the mail carrier.
- To speak to someone in a sharp, angry way.
- She snapped at her colleague for being late.
Snap one's fingers at: To show a lack of respect for someone or something; to defy or disregard.
- He just snaps his fingers at the rules. (He completely ignores or disrespects the rules.)
In a snap: Very quickly or instantly.
- I'll have this finished in a snap. (I will complete this task very quickly.)
A snap of the fingers: Used to indicate something happening very quickly or easily.
- He can solve complex problems with just a snap of the fingers. (He can solve them almost instantly.)
- (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
- the quarterback fumbled the snap
- the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
- he gave his fingers a snap
- any undertaking that is easy to do
- marketing this product will be no picnic
- a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound
- children can manage snaps better than buttons
- an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
- my snapshots haven't been developed yet
- he tried to get unposed shots of his friends
- the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
- the waistband had lost its snap
- a sudden breaking
- a sudden sharp noise
- the crack of a whip
- he heard the cracking of the ice
- he can hear the snap of a twig
- the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
- servants appeared at the snap of his fingers
- a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger
- tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections
- a spell of cold weather
- a cold snap in the middle of May
- the act of catching an object with the hands
- Mays made the catch with his back to the plate
- he made a grab for the ball before it landed
- Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away
- the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion
- record on photographic film
- I photographed the scene of the accident
- She snapped a picture of the President
- bring the jaws together
- he snapped indignantly
- lose control of one's emotions
- When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
- When her baby died, she snapped
- cause to make a snapping sound
- snap your fingers
- put in play with a snap
- snap a football
- to grasp hastily or eagerly
- Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone
- move with a snapping sound
- bullets snapped past us
- make a sharp sound
- his fingers snapped
- close with a snapping motion
- The lock snapped shut
- move or strike with a noise
- he clicked on the light
- his arm was snapped forward
- break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension
- The pipe snapped
- separate or cause to separate abruptly
- The rope snapped
- tear the paper
- utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
- The sales clerk snapped a reply at the angry customer
- The guard snarled at us