snap

v., n., adv., & adj.
—v. (snapped, snapping)
1 intr. & tr. break suddenly or with a snap.
2 intr. & tr. emit or cause to emit a sudden sharp sound or crack.
3 intr. & tr. open or close with a snapping sound (the bag snapped shut).
4 a intr. (often foll. by at) speak irritably or spitefully (to a person) (did not mean to snap at you). b tr. say irritably or spitefully.
5 intr. (often foll. by at) (esp. of a dog etc.) make a sudden audible bite.
6 tr. & intr. move quickly (snap into action).
7 tr. take a snapshot of.
8 tr. Amer. Football put (the ball) into play on the ground by a quick backward movement.
—n.
1 an act or sound of snapping.
2 a crisp biscuit or cake (brandy snap; ginger snap).
3 a snapshot.
4 (in full cold snap) a sudden brief spell of cold weather.
5 Brit. a a card-game in which players call 'snap' when two similar cards are exposed. b (as int.) on noticing the (often unexpected) similarity of two things.
6 crispness of style; fresh vigour or liveliness in action; zest; dash; spring.
7 US sl. an easy task (it was a snap).
—adv. with the sound of a snap (heard it go snap).
—adj. done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice (snap decision).
Phrases and idioms:
snap at accept (bait, a chance, etc.) eagerly (see also senses 4a and 5 of v.). snap bean US a bean grown for its pods which are broken into pieces and eaten. snap-bolt (or -lock) a bolt etc. which locks automatically when a door or window closes. snap-brim (of a hat) with a brim that can be turned up and down at opposite sides. snap-fastener = press-stud (see PRESS(1)). snap one's fingers
1 make an audible fillip, esp. in rhythm to music etc.
2 (often foll. by at) defy; show contempt for. snap-hook (or -link) a hook or link with a spring allowing the entrance but barring the escape of a cord, link, etc. snap off break off or bite off. snap off a person's head address a person angrily or rudely. snap out say irritably. snap out of sl. get rid of (a mood, habit, etc.) by a sudden effort. snapping turtle any large American freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae which seizes prey with a snap of its jaws.
snap up
1 accept (an offer, a bargain) quickly or eagerly.
2 pick up or catch hastily or smartly.
3 interrupt (another person) before he or she has finished speaking.
Derivatives:
snappable adj. snappingly adv.
Etymology: prob. f. MDu. or MLG snappen, partly imit.