snap
♦ snap /sn'æp/ (snaps snapping snapped)
1 [VERB] V, V adv/prep, V n adv/prep, also V n
If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise.
He shifted his weight and a twig snapped...
The brake pedal had just snapped off...
She gripped the pipe with both hands, trying to snap it in half.
[N-SING]
Snap is also a noun.
Every minute or so I could hear a snap, a crack and a crash as another tree went down.
2 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V adv
If you snap something into a particular position, or if it snaps into that position, it moves quickly into that position, with a sharp sound.
He snapped the notebook shut...
The bag snapped open.
[N-SING]
Snap is also a noun.
He shut the book with a snap and stood up.
3 [VERB] V n
If you snap your fingers, you make a sharp sound by moving your middle finger quickly across your thumb, for example in order to accompany music or to order someone to do something.
She had millions of listeners snapping their fingers to her first single...
= click
[N-SING] N of n
Snap is also a noun.
I could obtain with the snap of my fingers anything I chose.
4 [VERB] V with quote, V at n
If someone snaps at you, they speak to you in a sharp, unfriendly way.
`Of course I don't know her,' Roger snapped...
I'm sorry, Casey, I didn't mean to snap at you like that.
5 [VERB] V
If someone snaps, or if something snaps inside them, they suddenly stop being calm and become very angry because the situation has become too tense or too difficult for them.
He finally snapped when she prevented their children from visiting him one weekend...
6 [VERB] V at n, V
If an animal such as a dog snaps at you, it opens and shuts its jaws quickly near you, as if it were going to bite you.
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle...
The poodle yapped and snapped.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
A snap decision or action is one that is taken suddenly, often without careful thought.
I think this is too important for a snap decision...
8 [N-COUNT]
A snap is a photograph. (INFORMAL)
...a snap my mother took last year.
= photo
9 [VERB] V n
If you snap someone or something, you take a photograph of them. (INFORMAL)
He was the first ever non-British photographer to be invited to snap a royal.
= photograph
10
see also cold snapbran|dy snap (brandy snaps)
[N-COUNT]
Brandy snaps are very thin crisp biscuits in the shape of hollow cylinders. They are flavoured with ginger and are often filled with cream.cold snap (cold snaps)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A cold snap is a short period of cold and icy weather.snap fas|ten|er (snap fasteners)
[N-COUNT]
A snap fastener is a small metal object used to fasten clothes, made up of two parts which can be pressed together. (AM; in BRIT, use press stud, popper)snap up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you snap something up, you buy it quickly because it is cheap or is just what you want.
Every time we get a new delivery of clothes, people are queuing to snap them up...
One eagle-eyed collector snapped up a pair of Schiaparelli earrings for just £6.
1 [VERB] V, V adv/prep, V n adv/prep, also V n
If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise.
He shifted his weight and a twig snapped...
The brake pedal had just snapped off...
She gripped the pipe with both hands, trying to snap it in half.
[N-SING]
Snap is also a noun.
Every minute or so I could hear a snap, a crack and a crash as another tree went down.
2 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V adv
If you snap something into a particular position, or if it snaps into that position, it moves quickly into that position, with a sharp sound.
He snapped the notebook shut...
The bag snapped open.
[N-SING]
Snap is also a noun.
He shut the book with a snap and stood up.
3 [VERB] V n
If you snap your fingers, you make a sharp sound by moving your middle finger quickly across your thumb, for example in order to accompany music or to order someone to do something.
She had millions of listeners snapping their fingers to her first single...
= click
[N-SING] N of n
Snap is also a noun.
I could obtain with the snap of my fingers anything I chose.
4 [VERB] V with quote, V at n
If someone snaps at you, they speak to you in a sharp, unfriendly way.
`Of course I don't know her,' Roger snapped...
I'm sorry, Casey, I didn't mean to snap at you like that.
5 [VERB] V
If someone snaps, or if something snaps inside them, they suddenly stop being calm and become very angry because the situation has become too tense or too difficult for them.
He finally snapped when she prevented their children from visiting him one weekend...
6 [VERB] V at n, V
If an animal such as a dog snaps at you, it opens and shuts its jaws quickly near you, as if it were going to bite you.
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle...
The poodle yapped and snapped.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
A snap decision or action is one that is taken suddenly, often without careful thought.
I think this is too important for a snap decision...
8 [N-COUNT]
A snap is a photograph. (INFORMAL)
...a snap my mother took last year.
= photo
9 [VERB] V n
If you snap someone or something, you take a photograph of them. (INFORMAL)
He was the first ever non-British photographer to be invited to snap a royal.
= photograph
10
see also cold snapbran|dy snap (brandy snaps)
[N-COUNT]
Brandy snaps are very thin crisp biscuits in the shape of hollow cylinders. They are flavoured with ginger and are often filled with cream.cold snap (cold snaps)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A cold snap is a short period of cold and icy weather.snap fas|ten|er (snap fasteners)
[N-COUNT]
A snap fastener is a small metal object used to fasten clothes, made up of two parts which can be pressed together. (AM; in BRIT, use press stud, popper)snap up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you snap something up, you buy it quickly because it is cheap or is just what you want.
Every time we get a new delivery of clothes, people are queuing to snap them up...
One eagle-eyed collector snapped up a pair of Schiaparelli earrings for just £6.