From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_308_asnapsnap1 /snæp/ ●●● W3 verb (snapped, snapping) 1 break [intransitive, transitive]BREAK to break with a sudden sharp noise, or to make something do this A twig snapped under my feet. The wind snapped branches and power lines.snap (something) off (something) I snapped the ends off the beans and dropped them into a bowl.snap (something) in two/in half (=break into two pieces) The teacher snapped the chalk in two and gave me a piece.► see thesaurus at break2 move into position [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]XX to move into a particular position suddenly, making a short sharp noise, or to make something move like thissnap together/back etc The pieces just snap together like this. The policeman snapped the handcuffs around her wrist.snap (something) open/shut She snapped her briefcase shut.3 say something angrily [intransitive, transitive]ANGRY to say something quickly in an angry way ‘What do you want?’ Mike snapped.snap at He snapped at Walter for no reason.4 become angry/anxious etc [intransitive]CONTROL# to suddenly stop being able to control your anger, anxiety, or other feelings in a difficult situation The stress began to get to her, and one morning she just snapped. Something inside him snapped, and he hit her.5 animal [intransitive]BITE if an animal such as a dog snaps, it tries to bite yousnap at The dog started snapping at my heels. 6 photograph [intransitive, transitive] informalTCPPICTURE to take a photograph Dave snapped a picture of me and Sonia.7 → snap your fingers8 → snap to it9 stop [transitive] American English to end a series of events – used especially in newspapers The Rockets snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating Portland.10 → snap to attention → snap-on → snap on/off → snap out of something → snap somebody/something ↔ up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
snap• "Can't you see I'm eating?" Mattie snapped.• When he hit me across the face, I just snapped.• As the pounding got louder and louder, suddenly Christine snapped.• Her twig-thin legs seemed fit to snap.• Charlotte's patience suddenly snapped.• Cheaper versions are made of metal that could rust and snap.• Mel snapped a picture with his pocket camera.• The Rockets finally snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating Portland.• Melanie Smithson, who is accused of murdering her husband, has claimed that she snapped after years of violence and abuse.• Leroy finally snapped and attacked his tormentors.• The nurse snapped her fingers, and they sprang into motion.• He accidentally snapped his putter in half during one tournament.• As soon as the ball was snapped, I took off after them.• Power lines snapped in the high winds.• One hundred feet up it snapped into full canopy.• The tip of the Christmas tree snapped off when it fell.• Sliding them on to the desk, she snapped open her briefcase and took out her calculator.• High winds snapped power lines in the city, leaving more than 9000 people without power.• The cops snapped the handcuffs back onto the prisoner.• But the actors snap the movie back to life with sharply observed emotion.• And then holding the cigarette in front of his face he snapped the tip like some breaker of bread.• He hit a rock and snapped the truck's axle.• A twig snapped under his foot.• One of the strings on my guitar snapped when I was tuning it.snap (something) off (something)• Bernice took a few moments break from her search to reach up and snap it off.• Suddenly the top of the cage snapped clean off.• Would the wind snap the roof off?• Then snap punch off the front fist into the opponent's face.• He hit a low, snap duck-hook off the tee, which I have very seldom ever seen him do.• The gusts are becoming malevolent, snapping the heads off the waves like daisies.• There's no need to snap my head off this early in the morning.snap (something) open/shut• He took his gold watch out of his waistcoat pocket and snapped it open.• Goldie, replete, snaps her eyes shut and is soon snoring.• Cocking her head, she snapped the fan shut and pointed it at him.• A police officer grabbed the phone, snapped it shut and searched Mauss.• Once, in a moment of despair, he snapped his Bible shut and squashed them to a paste.• With a small exclamation she snapped the book shut, but before she could get to her feet Marc glanced up.• A couple of wires in his damaged wing snapped, dashing open the fabric.• There's not a huge level of power available-you can snap the throttle open without feeling intimidated. snap at• Sean came running around the corner of the house with a small dog snapping at his heels.• Pitino snapped at one reporter who approached him after the game.• Every time your puppy snaps at someone, give him a smack on the butt with a rolled up newspaper.• Ginger was snapping at their heels.Something ... snapped• And finally, something inside me snapped.• And the night of the murder something snapped.• Something snapped in him and he hit her.• I have no time for people who lose their temper with animals but something snapped in my mind then.• Then something snapped inside him; all the choked up hatred he had for Luke suddenly spewed out.• And then something snapped inside the little cook.snapsnap2 noun 1 sound [singular]SOUNDBREAK a sudden loud sound, especially made by something breaking or closing He shut the book with a snap.2 photograph [countable] especially British English informalTCP a photograph taken quickly and often not very skilfully SYN snapshot holiday snaps3 → be a snap4 clothing [countable] American EnglishDCC a small metal fastener on clothes that works when you press its two parts together SYN press stud British English baby clothing with snaps5 → a snap of somebody’s fingers6 game [uncountable]DGC a card game in which players put down one card after another and try to be the first to shout ‘Snap!’ when there are two cards that are the same → cold snapExamples from the Corpus
snap• She showed me a snapshot of her three children.• They're just snapshots, but some of them are really good.• Nick closed the lid with a snap.• Kirov chose another snap which he had taken at a pavement cafe in Tbilisi, bringing his final selection to four.• Did you take any snaps in Greece?• Despite the cold snap, a white Christmas was an unlikely prospect for most people.• Moreover, demand for heating oil did not meet expectations during the cold snaps over the last two months.• With the Jags, he cut the number down to 10 plays, to be run consecutively from the first snap.• The all important hip-consciousness of Manchester wholeheartedly jerked to the harsh snap of the Linn Drum.• Patrick was showing his holiday snaps to everyone in the office.• Everyone is enormously excited and Kate and Paul keep the Polaroid snap of the Mango.• Elvis Grbac took the snap, tucked his body into a tight C and dropped it into the end zone.snapsnap3 adjective 1 → snap judgment/decision2 → snap electionExamples from the Corpus
snap• Snap decisions are not always the best decisions.• Warm frustration had turned cold rage, a snap freeze.• Usually she did not make snap judgements about people.• You make quick, almost snap, judgments.• The cat stance is an ideal stance from which to execute a front snap kick.• The jacket is in a smock style and has two zipped pockets and a snap neck closure.• The Hercules features a Windstopper lined snap neck, two zipped waist pockets and stylish embroidery on the back and front.• Throw a fast snap punch at the opponent's face.• Then snap punch off the front fist into the opponent's face.• Lean away as you do this to avoid getting hit in the face with a snap punch.snapsnap4 interjection 1 British EnglishSAME used when you see two things that are exactly the same Hey, snap! My hat’s the same as yours.2 DGCsaid in the game of snap when two cards that are the same are put downFrom Longman Business Dictionarysnapsnap /snæp/ verb (snapped, snapping) → snap up→ See Verb tableOrigin snap1 (1400-1500) Dutch Low German snappen 