to break or cause to break suddenly, esp with a sharp sound
2.
to make or cause to make a sudden sharp cracking sound
3. (intransitive)
to give way or collapse suddenly, esp from strain
4.
to move, close, etc, or cause to move, close, etc, with a sudden sharp sound
5.
to move or cause to move in a sudden or abrupt way
6. (intr; often foll by at or up)
to seize something suddenly or quickly
7. (whenintr, often foll by at)
to bite at (something) bringing the jaws rapidly together
8.
to speak (words) sharply or abruptly
9. (intransitive)
(of eyes) to flash or sparkle
10.
to take a snapshot of (something)
11. (intransitive) hunting
to fire a quick shot without taking deliberate aim
12. (transitive) American football
to put (the ball) into play by sending it back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate
13. snap one's fingers at
14. snap out of it
noun
15.
the act of breaking suddenly or the sound produced by a sudden breakage
16.
a sudden sharp sound, esp of bursting, popping, or cracking
17.
a catch, clasp, or fastener that operates with a snapping sound
18.
a sudden grab or bite
19.
the sudden release of something such as elastic thread
20.
a brisk movement of the thumb against one or more fingers
21.
a thin crisp biscuit
ginger snaps
22. informal snapshot
23. informal
vigour, liveliness, or energy
24. informal
a task or job that is easy or profitable to do
25.
a short spell or period, esp of cold weather
26. British dialect
food, esp a packed lunch taken to work
27. British
a card game in which the word snap is called when two cards of equal value are turned up on the separate piles dealt by each player
28. American football
the start of each play when the centre passes the ball back from the line of scrimmage to a teammate
29. (modifier)
done on the spur of the moment, without consideration or warning
a snap decision
30. (modifier)
closed or fastened with a snap
adverb
31.
with a snap
exclamation
32.
a. cards
the word called while playing snap
b.
an exclamation used to draw attention to the similarity of two things
Derived forms
snapless (ˈsnapless)
adjective
snappable (ˈsnappable)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snappen to seize; related to Old Norse snapa to snuffle
Examples of 'snapping' in a sentence
snapping
She'd managed to sit down somehow without her dress snapping up around her waist.
Robert Wilson A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
It's unclear who the rodent was snapping.
The Sun (2013)
He's been angry about everything and snapping at our son lately.
The Sun (2018)
We are snapping up tickets for each new show within days of their release.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Personal trainers are snapping them up, despite the 700 price tag.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Is this snapping-up of weekend boltholes or retirement homes pricing locals out?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their snapping jaws galvanised the jewellers complete the commission before they grew too big.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Does she get paranoid about the young pretenders snapping at her heels?
The Sun (2018)
The increasingly powerful opposition parties are snapping at the government's heels.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
All related terms of 'snapping'
snap
If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise .
snapping beetle
→ click beetle
snapping shrimp
any common shrimp of the family Alphaeidae, distinguished by the snapping sound made by its enlarged claw
snapping turtle
any large aggressive North American river turtle of the family Chelydridae, esp Chelydra serpentina ( common snapping turtle ), having powerful hooked jaws and a rough shell
snap up
If you snap something up , you buy it quickly because it is cheap or is just what you want .
common snapping turtle
a large aggressive North American river turtle , Chelydra serpentina , having powerful hooked jaws and a rough shell
snap out of
If someone who is depressed snaps out of it or snaps out of their depression , they suddenly become more cheerful , especially by making an effort.
click beetle
any beetle of the family Elateridae, which have the ability to right themselves with a snapping movement when placed on their backs