| English Dictionary |
SNAP (snapped, snapping)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, snapping Dictionary entry overview: What does snap mean?
• SNAP (noun)
The noun SNAP has 13 senses:
1. the act of catching an object with the hands
2. a spell of cold weather
3. tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections
4. a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger
5. the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
6. a sudden sharp noise
7. a sudden breaking
8. the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
9. an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
10. a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound
11. any undertaking that is easy to do
12. the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
13. (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
Familiarity information: SNAP used as a noun is familiar.
• SNAP (verb)
The verb SNAP has 13 senses:
1. utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
2. separate or cause to separate abruptly
3. break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension
4. move or strike with a noise
5. close with a snapping motion
6. make a sharp sound
7. move with a snapping sound
8. to grasp hastily or eagerly
9. put in play with a snap
10. cause to make a snapping sound
11. lose control of one's emotions
12. bring the jaws together
13. record on photographic film
Familiarity information: SNAP used as a verb is familiar.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of catching an object with the hands
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
Context example:
the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "snap"):
interception ((American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team)
reception ((American football) the act of catching a pass in football)
rebound (the act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot)
shoestring catch ((baseball) a running catch made near the ground)
interlock; interlocking; mesh; meshing (the act of interlocking or meshing)
fair catch ((American football) a catch of a punt on the fly by a defensive player who has signalled that he will not run and so should not be tackled)
Derivation:
snap (to grasp hastily or eagerly)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A spell of cold weather
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Context example:
a cold snap in the middle of May
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
patch; piece; spell; while (a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition)
Derivation:
snappy (pleasantly cold and invigorating)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections
Classified under:
Nouns denoting foods and drinks
Synonyms:
snap; snap bean
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
green bean (immature bean pod eaten as a vegetable)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A crisp round cookie flavored with ginger
Classified under:
Nouns denoting foods and drinks
Synonyms:
ginger nut; ginger snap; gingersnap; snap
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
biscuit; cookie; cooky (any of various small flat sweet cakes ('biscuit' is the British term))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "snap"):
brandysnap (a gingersnap flavored with brandy)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Context example:
servants appeared at the snap of his fingers
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))
Derivation:
snap (cause to make a snapping sound)
snap (make a sharp sound)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A sudden sharp noise
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
Context example:
he can hear the snap of a twig
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))
Derivation:
snap (close with a snapping motion)
snap (move or strike with a noise)
snap (move with a snapping sound)
Sense 7
Meaning:
A sudden breaking
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
break (the occurrence of breaking)
Derivation:
snap (break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension)
snap (separate or cause to separate abruptly)
Sense 8
Meaning:
The tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
elasticity; snap
Context example:
the waistband had lost its snap
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
physical property (any property used to characterize matter and energy and their interactions)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "snap"):
temper; toughness (the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking)
elasticity of shear (the elasticity of a body that has been pulled out of shape by a shearing force)
stretch; stretchability; stretchiness (the capacity for being stretched)
give; spring; springiness (the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length)
bounce; bounciness (the quality of a substance that is able to rebound)
resilience; resiliency (the physical property of a material that can return to its original shape or position after deformation that does not exceed its elastic limit)
Sense 9
Meaning:
An informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
Context example:
he tried to get unposed shots of his friends
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
exposure; photo; photograph; pic; picture (a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format)
Derivation:
snap (record on photographic film)
Sense 10
Meaning:
A fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
press stud; snap; snap fastener
Context example:
children can manage snaps better than buttons
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Any undertaking that is easy to do
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
breeze; child's play; cinch; duck soup; picnic; piece of cake; pushover; snap; walkover
Context example:
marketing this product will be no picnic
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
labor; project; task; undertaking (any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "snap"):
doddle (an easy task)
Sense 12
Meaning:
The act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
he gave his fingers a snap
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)
Derivation:
snap (cause to make a snapping sound)
snap (make a sharp sound)
snappy (pleasantly cold and invigorating)
Sense 13
Meaning:
(American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
centering; snap
Context example:
the quarterback fumbled the snap
Hypernyms ("snap" is a kind of...):
flip; pass; toss ((sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team)
Domain category:
American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)
Derivation:
snap (put in play with a snap)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it snaps Past simple: snapped
Past participle: snapped
-ing form: snapping
Sense 1
Meaning:
Utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
snap; snarl
Context example:
The guard snarled at us
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sentence example:
They snap that there was a traffic accident
Sense 2
Meaning:
Separate or cause to separate abruptly
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
Context example:
tear the paper
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
disunite; divide; part; separate (force, take, or pull apart)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "snap"):
lacerate (cut or tear irregularly)
pull; rend; rip; rive (tear or be torn violently)
rip up; shred; tear up (tear into shreds)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence examples:
The ropes snap
The strong winds snap the rope
Derivation:
snap (a sudden breaking)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
crack; snap
Context example:
The pipe snapped
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
break; come apart; fall apart; separate; split up (become separated into pieces or fragments)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
snap (a sudden breaking)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Move or strike with a noise
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
click; snap
Context example:
his arm was snapped forward
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
snap (a sudden sharp noise)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Close with a snapping motion
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
The lock snapped shut
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
close; shut (move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
snap (a sudden sharp noise)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Make a sharp sound
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
crack; snap
Context example:
his fingers snapped
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
snap (the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand)
snap (the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Move with a snapping sound
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
bullets snapped past us
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Derivation:
snap (a sudden sharp noise)
Sense 8
Meaning:
To grasp hastily or eagerly
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
Context example:
Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "snap"):
swoop; swoop up (seize or catch with a swooping motion)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Also:
snap up (get hold of or seize quickly and easily)
Derivation:
snap (the act of catching an object with the hands)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Put in play with a snap
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
snap a football
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
hit (cause to move by striking)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
snap ((American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back)
snapper ((football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Cause to make a snapping sound
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
Context example:
snap your fingers
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
snap (the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand)
snap (the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand)
snapper (a party favor consisting of a paper roll (usually containing candy or a small favor) that pops when pulled at both ends)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Lose control of one's emotions
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
break down; lose it; snap
Context example:
When her baby died, she snapped
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "snap"):
dissolve (lose control emotionally)
die (be brought to or as if to the point of death by an intense emotion such as embarrassment, amusement, or shame)
fall apart; go to pieces (lose one's emotional or mental composure)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sense 12
Meaning:
Bring the jaws together
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
he snapped indignantly
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
bite; seize with teeth (to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 13
Meaning:
Record on photographic film
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
photograph; shoot; snap
Context example:
She snapped a picture of the President
Hypernyms (to "snap" is one way to...):
enter; put down; record (make a record of; set down in permanent form)
Verb group:
film; shoot; take (make a film or photograph of something)
Domain category:
photography; picture taking (the act of taking and printing photographs)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "snap"):
retake (photograph again)
x-ray (take an x-ray of something or somebody)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
snap (an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera)
Context examples
His progress was marked by snarl and snap and growl.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Could I not snap the bond?
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
If they say, 'Charley, come, let us start for hell,' I will harness the dogs, and snap the whip, and start for hell.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
The turmoil within my brain was such that something must surely snap.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Doctor, I'm no coward; no, not I—not SO much!” and he snapped his fingers.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Presently he closed the catch of his bag with a snap, and said:—I have been thinking, and have made up my mind as to what is best.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
His muscles were surcharged with vitality, and snapped into play sharply, like steel springs.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
They were capable of snapping a man off like a fly from a whip-lash.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The policeman snapped up his notebook.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
If that be snapped I know not what would follow.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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