1 : to break quickly with a short, sharp sound [no obj] ▪ The branch snapped and fell to the ground. ▪ The cable suddenly snapped. ▪ The earpiece of his glasses snapped off. [+ obj] ▪ She snapped the twig in two. ▪ The boy snapped the wing off his toy airplane. 2 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to move into a specified position with a short, sharp sound [no obj] ▪ The trap snapped shut. ▪ The bent tree snapped back into an upright position. ▪ The pieces snap [=click] easily into place. [+ obj] ▪ I snapped the lid shut. ▪ She snapped the pieces together. 3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to close (something) with a fastener and especially with a snap
▪ She snapped her handbag shut. ▪ He snapped (up) his jacket. 4 [+ obj] : to turn (something) on or off with a switch
▪ snap on/off the lights 5 : to make a short, sharp sound or to cause (something) to make a short, sharp sound [no obj] ▪ A fire snapped [=crackled] in the wood stove. [+ obj] ▪ The driver snapped [=cracked] the whip to get the horses moving. ▪ a bored student snapping her chewing gum 6 : to use your thumb and fingers to make a short, sharp sound [+ obj] ▪ People snapped their fingers to the beat. ▪ He snapped his fingers to get the waiter's attention. [no obj] ▪ People in the audience snapped to the beat. 7 [+ obj] informal : to take (a photograph)
▪ tourists snapping pictures ▪ The images were snapped by a satellite camera. : to photograph (someone or something) ▪ A photographer snapped the famous couple leaving a London club last week. 8 : to speak using short, angry sentences or phrases [no obj] — usually + at ▪ They argued and snapped at each other all the time. [+ obj] ▪ She snapped that I was lucky to have a job at all. ▪ “Leave me alone!” he snapped. 9 [no obj] : to suddenly no longer be able to control your emotions because of a difficult situation, circumstance, etc.
▪ She snapped under the pressure of the job. ▪ He just snapped and started swearing at everybody. 10 : to move with a quick, short movement or to cause (something) to move with a quick, short movement [no obj] ▪ Flags snapped in the wind. [+ obj] ▪ When you're throwing, snap your wrist as you release the ball. 11 [+ obj] US, informal : to cause the end of (a series of wins, losses, successes, etc.)
▪ They snapped [=broke] a 10-game losing streak. [=they won a game after losing 10 games] ▪ His hitting streak was snapped at 18 games. 12 [+ obj] American football : to pass (the ball) back to a teammate and especially to the quarterback by passing it between your legs at the start of a play
▪ The center snapped [=hiked] the ball. 13 [no obj] : to try to bite someone or something suddenly and quickly — usually + at ▪ The dog snapped at a fly.